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

Quick overview

Pediacel is a combination vaccine given by injection into a muscle that helps protect against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections. It is given to infants from 2 months of age and can also be used as a booster up to age 7. The vaccine works by stimulating the body's immune system to develop its own protection against these diseases.

What is Pediacel Injection

Pediacel is a combination vaccine from the vaccine drug class. Its full generic name is Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed Combined with Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine and Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (Tetanus Protein – Conjugate). It is given by injection into a muscle and is intended for infants starting at 2 months of age, with use as a booster possible up to age 7.

Pediacel Injection uses

• Helps prevent diphtheria
• Helps prevent tetanus (lock jaw)
• Helps prevent pertussis (whooping cough)
• Helps prevent polio
• Helps prevent invasive H. influenzae type b (Hib) infections

Benefits of Pediacel Injection

• Helps protect against diphtheria.
• Helps protect against tetanus.
• Helps protect against pertussis (whooping cough).
• Helps protect against poliomyelitis (polio).
• Helps protect against serious infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), including meningitis.
• Stimulates the immune system to develop long-term protection against these five childhood diseases.

How Pediacel Injection works

The vaccine exposes the body to inactivated or purified pieces of the bacteria and viruses that cause these diseases. This causes the body to make its own natural protection, called antibodies, so that if the person later comes into contact with the actual germs, the body is usually ready to fight them off.

Pediacel Injection dosage

Pediacel is given as an injection into a muscle, usually the thigh for children under 1 year old, and the shoulder area for children older than 1 year. It is given as part of a routine series in infancy and childhood, with a booster possible up to age 7. This vaccine should not be mixed with other vaccines or medicines in the same syringe. The vial should be shaken well until it looks like a uniform, cloudy suspension before it is drawn up. If a dose in the schedule is delayed, the doctor will follow a catch-up schedule with spacing between doses.

Available forms and strengths

Suspension for injection (liquid vaccine given into a muscle)

Side effects of Pediacel Injection

Common

• Redness, swelling, or tenderness around the injection site
• Fever
• Increased crying
• Fussiness
• Being less active
• Decreased eating
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Serious

• High fever
• Swelling and redness of the entire arm or leg
• Serious allergic reaction (such as hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing)
• Seizures (convulsions), with or without fever
• Hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode (infant appears pale, limp, and unresponsive)
• Prolonged or unusual high-pitched crying

Warnings and precautions

• Do not give this vaccine to a child who is allergic to any of its ingredients or who has had an allergic reaction to a vaccine with similar ingredients.
• Do not give this vaccine to someone who had a serious nervous system disorder within 7 days after a previous pertussis-containing vaccine.
• If the child has a high fever or serious illness, wait until they are better before vaccinating.
• Tell the doctor if the child has an immune system disease or is taking treatment that affects the immune system, since the vaccine may work less well and vaccination may need to be postponed.
• Tell the person giving the injection if the child has a bleeding disorder or takes blood-thinning medication, so the injection can be given carefully.
• If the child has a higher risk of seizures than usual, a fever-reducing medicine may be given.
• Do not mix this vaccine with other vaccines or medicines in the same syringe.

Pediacel is a paediatric combination vaccine intended for young children, not for routine vaccination during pregnancy. It is not applicable for routine use for breastfeeding adults, as it is administered to children.

No specific dose adjustment is generally required for kidney function, but children with significant kidney disease or weakened immunity should be assessed by their healthcare professional before vaccination. No specific liver-related dose adjustment is generally required. There is no relevant interaction with alcohol, and driving is not relevant to its usual paediatric use.

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 recommended storage conditions were not maintained.
• Keep securely stored and out of reach of children.

When to see a doctor

• Tell your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist as soon as possible if your child is not feeling well after getting this vaccine.
• Get medical help right away if there are signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor at once if the child has irritability or crying for an hour or longer, a very high fever, or extreme drowsiness or fainting.
• If you suspect an overdose, contact a health-care practitioner, hospital emergency department, or your regional poison control center right away, even if there are no symptoms.

Alternatives

• Pediarix
• Vaxelis
• Infanrix Hexa
• Infanrix-IPV+Hib
• Pentacel (DTaP-IPV-Hib)