Infanrix Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Infanrix Injection is a vaccine containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis antigens (DTaP), used to protect infants and children against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). It contains non-infectious parts of the bacteria that cause these diseases, so it cannot cause the diseases itself. It is given by injection, usually in the upper leg or arm, as part of a primary series followed by booster doses. Common reactions include injection site soreness and fever, while serious reactions require prompt medical attention.

What is Infanrix Injection

Infanrix is a vaccine that helps protect infants and children against three serious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). It contains non-infectious parts of the bacteria that cause these diseases, so it cannot cause the diseases itself.

Infanrix Injection uses

• Prevents diphtheria
• Prevents tetanus (lockjaw)
• Prevents pertussis (whooping cough)

Benefits of Infanrix Injection

• Helps protect against diphtheria.
• Helps protect against tetanus.
• Helps protect against pertussis (whooping cough).
• Stimulates the immune system to produce protective antibodies against these infections.
• Helps reduce the risk of serious complications, hospitalization, and death from these diseases.
• Is used as part of routine childhood immunization and booster vaccination schedules.

How Infanrix Injection works

The vaccine contains harmless parts of the bacteria that cause diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The body's immune system recognizes these as foreign and makes antibodies against them, so it can respond quickly if the person is later exposed to the real bacteria.

Infanrix Injection dosage

Infanrix is given by injection into a muscle, usually in the upper leg or upper arm. For children with bleeding problems, the dose may need to be given under the skin instead of into a muscle. It should never be injected into a vein. It is given as a primary series of three doses starting at 2 months of age, with the second and third doses two months apart, followed by booster doses later in childhood. It is important to keep follow-up appointments so all doses are given at the correct times.

Available forms and strengths

• Injectable suspension in prefilled syringes

Side effects of Infanrix Injection

Common

• Pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• Fever
• Feeling tired or drowsy
• Irritability or fussiness
• Loss of appetite
• Unusual crying
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Itchy skin

Serious

• Swelling of limbs, face, eyes, inside of nose, mouth, or throat
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing or swallowing
• Hives, itching, or severe skin reactions
• Sudden severe tiredness or weakness
• Sudden drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness
• Crying for 3 hours or more
• Collapse or periods of unconsciousness or lack of awareness
• Seizures (convulsions or fits)
• Fever over 39°C
• Swollen glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
• Unusual bleeding or bruising

Warnings and precautions

• Do not give this vaccine if there has been a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of any diphtheria, tetanus, or pertussis vaccine, or to any ingredient in the vaccine.
• Do not give this vaccine if the child had a brain disease (encephalopathy) within 7 days of a previous dose of a pertussis-containing vaccine that could not be explained by another cause.
• Do not give this vaccine to children with an ongoing, worsening nervous system disorder, including uncontrolled epilepsy or spasms in infants, until the condition has been treated and stabilized.
• If a nerve condition called Guillain-Barré syndrome occurred within 6 weeks of a previous tetanus-containing vaccine, the decision to give this vaccine again should weigh the benefits and risks carefully.
• Fainting can happen after any injection, so precautions should be taken to prevent injury if this occurs.
• If certain reactions happened after a previous pertussis vaccine dose—such as high fever, a collapse or shock-like state, crying for 3 hours or more, or seizures—the decision to give another pertussis-containing dose should be carefully weighed.
• Premature babies may have breathing pauses (apnea) after the injection, so the timing of vaccination should consider the infant's health status and the benefits and risks.
• In children with weakened immune systems, including those on immune-suppressing medicines, the vaccine may not work as well.
• This vaccine is not approved for infants younger than 6 weeks or children aged 7 to 16 years, as safety and effectiveness have not been established in these groups.

Storage

• Store refrigerated at 2–8°C (36–46°F).
• Keep in the original packaging to protect from light.
• Do not freeze; discard the vaccine if it has been frozen.
• Maintain the recommended cold chain during storage and transport.
• Do not use after the expiry date or if proper storage conditions were not maintained.
• Keep securely stored and out of reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if there is swelling of the limbs, face, eyes, nose, mouth, or throat, or trouble breathing or swallowing.
• Seek emergency care for hives, itching (especially of the hands or feet), skin redness (especially around the ears), or severe skin reactions.
• Get help immediately for sudden severe tiredness or weakness, or a sudden drop in blood pressure with loss of consciousness.
• Call a doctor straight away or go to the emergency department if the child cries for 3 hours or more, or has a period of collapse or unconsciousness within 2 to 3 days of vaccination.
• Get emergency care if the child has seizures (convulsions or fits) or a fever over 39°C.
• Seek help for unusual bleeding or bruising after vaccination.

Alternatives

• Daptacel
• Pediarix
• Infanrix Hexa
• Pentacel
• Boostrix