Repevax

How does it work?

When the body is exposed to foreign organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, the immune system produces antibodies against them. Antibodies help the body recognise and kill the foreign organisms. They then remain in the body to help protect the body against future infections with the same organism. This is known as active immunity.

The immune system produces different antibodies for each foreign organism it encounters. This establishes a pool of antibodies that helps protect the body from various different diseases.

Vaccines contain extracts or inactivated forms of bacteria or viruses that cause disease. These altered forms of the organisms stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against them, but don't actually cause disease themselves. The antibodies produced remain in the body so that if the organism is ecountered naturally, the immune system can recognise it and attack it, thus preventing it from causing disease.

Each bacteria or virus stimulates the immune system to produce a specific type of antibody, and this means that different vaccines are needed to prevent different diseases.

This vaccine contains altered components of four different organisms that cause four different diseases. Purified diphtheria toxoid is a modified toxin produced by the bacteria that causes diphtheria. Purified tetanus toxoid is a modified toxin produced by the bacteria that causes tetanus. Acellular pertussis vaccine consists of five purified components of the bacteria that causes whooping cough. Inactivated poliomyelitis virus is an inactivated form of the virus that causes polio.

This combination vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against each of the four organisms. It is one injection that is given to children as a pre-school booster against these four diseases. It is usually given at age three to five years, as part of the childhood immunisation schedule.

What is it used for?

Booster vaccination of children from three years of age against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio

Warning!

This vaccine is a booster and should not be given to children who have not already completed a primary immunisation course against diphtheria, tetanus and polio. This booster should be given at least three years after completing the primary course.

This vaccine can be given to children whose immune systems are chronically suppressed, either by disease such as HIV or by treatment such as chemotherapy, however the vaccine may be less effective in these children. (For more information about immunosuppressive treatment see below.)

Use with caution in

Bleeding disorders

Reduced platelet count in the blood

Not to be used in

Children under three years of age

Known allergy to any ingredient of the vaccine (including formaldehyde, neomycin, streptomycin or polymixin B)

Fever or sudden severe illness

Children who experienced severe illness affecting the brain (encephalopathy) within seven days of receiving any previous vaccine against whooping cough

Children who experienced other neurological complications (affecting the brain or spinal cord) following a previous vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough or polio

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

This medicine is not intended for use in adults, hence there is no information available about its safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Pain, redness or swelling at injection site

Nausea and vomiting

Fever

Diarrhoea

Fatigue

Irritability

Rash

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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