Diphtheria Vaccine Adsorbed (Diluted for Adult Use)
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult). For children 8 years of age and over and adults.
≥ 2 IU/0.5 mL Diphtheria Toxoid
injection, solution
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Diphtheria Vaccine
(Adult).
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines, including vaccines, have risks and benefits. Your doctor has
weighed the risks of you or your child (of eight years or older) having
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) against the benefits they expect it will
have.
If you have any concerns about this vaccine, talk to your doctor,
nurse or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet.
You might need to read it again.
What Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) is used for
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) helps to prevent the disease
called diphtheria. Diphtheria is a serious illness which can be life
threatening.
Primary Course:
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) i s used to vaccinate people who have
not been vaccinated against diphtheria before. This is called
the 'primary course'.
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) is given to
- children 8 years of age and over, and
- adults.
A total of three (3) doses is needed for the primary course. The second and
third doses are given after an appropriate time interval. (See 'How
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) is given' section, later in this leaflet.)
Booster Dose:
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) is also given as an
additional dose (booster dose) about every 10
years for people who have already had a full primary course of
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult).
One (1) dose is needed for the booster dose.
How Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) works
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) works by getting your body to
produce its own protection against the bacteria (germs) that cause diphtheria.
The vaccine does not contain live germs and cannot give you the illness.
After you have Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult), your body makes
substances called antibodies. These antibodies fight the diphtheria germs. When
you come into contact with diphtheria germs, your body is usually ready to
destroy them.
NOTE: Your body takes a few weeks after vaccination to develop protection
against the diphtheria germs. You need to complete the full primary course of
injections to get full protection.
Most people who receive either
- all 3 doses, which completes the full primary course, or
- the booster dose (suitable only if in the past they have had the full
primary course against diphtheria),
will produce enough antibodies to protect against diphtheria disease.
However, as with all vaccines, 100% protection cannot be guaranteed.
Before you are given Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult)
When you or your child must NOT be given Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult)
Do not give Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) to a child under 8 years of
age.
It is not suitable for children under 8 years of age.
Do not use it after the expiry date printed on the pack.
Do not use it if the packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering, or
does not look quite right.
If you are not sure whether you or your child should have
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult), talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you or your child are given Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult)
Tell your doctor if you or your child have allergies to:
- Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) or any of the
ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet - any other medicines
- any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
As for all vaccines, medical supervision and treatment should be available in
case there is a severe allergic reaction.
Tell your doctor if you or the person to be immunised are pregnant or
intend to become pregnant.
Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of having
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) during pregnancy.
How Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) is given
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) is given by a trained health
professional, as an injection into muscle.
How much is given and when
One dose of Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) is 0.5 mL.
Primary Course
This is a total of 3 doses, given at intervals.
| Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) dose |
TIME INTERVAL after previous dose |
|---|---|
| 1 | Does not apply |
| 2 | 6-12 weeks |
| 3 | 6-12 months |
Booster Dose
For the booster dose, 1 dose is given every ten (10)
years.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
If you miss a dose
If you or your child miss a dose, talk to your doctor and arrange another
visit as soon as possible.
After having Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult)
Things you must do
Keep an updated record of your vaccinations or your child's
vaccinations.
Keep follow-up appointments with your doctor or clinic.
In order to make sure the vaccine has the best chance of providing protection
against diphtheria disease, it is important that:
- you or your child have all three doses of the
primary course of Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) at the
appropriate time intervals - the booster dose is given approximately 10 years after a
full primary course.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you or your
child feel unwell after having Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult).
All medicines, including vaccines, can have side effects. Diphtheria
Vaccine (Adult) may have unwanted side effects in some people.
Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You or your child may
need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you
notice any of the following and they worry you:
- reaction at the injection site such as temporarily redness, tenderness or
swelling - a small lump at the injection site; sometimes this may last for a few
weeks.
Allergic reaction:
As with all vaccines given by injection, there is a very small risk of a
severe allergic reaction.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to
Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
- sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin,
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body - shortness of breath
- collapse.
These are very serious side effects. If you or your child have them, you may
have had a severe allergic reaction to Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult).
You or your child need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Mostly this type of side effect occurs within the first few hours of being
given the vaccine.
Other side effects not listed above might occur in some people. Tell
your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you or your
child feel unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You or your child may not experience any of them.
Storing Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult)
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) is usually stored in the doctor's
surgery or clinic, or at the pharmacy. However, if you need to store
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult):
- Keep it where children cannot reach it.
- Keep it in the original pack until it is time for it to
be injected. - Keep it in the refrigerator, between 2°C and 8°C. DO NOT FREEZE
it. Freezing destroys the vaccine.
Product description
What Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) looks like
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) is supplied as a single dose (0.5
mL) in a glass container. It is a whitish, cloudy liquid.
Ingredients
Active ingredients:
- Diphtheria Toxoid: at least 2 International Units (IU).
Other ingredients:
- Aluminium phosphate
- Sodium chloride
- Sodium phosphate - monobasic
- Sodium phosphate - dibasic dodecahydrate
- Thiomersal (preservative)
- Water for injection.
Diphtheria Vaccine (Adult) does NOT contain:
- lactose
- sucrose
- gluten
- tartrazine or
- any other azo dyes.