Diphtheria Vaccine, Adsorbed
Diphtheria Vaccine, Adsorbed. For infants and children under 8 years of age.
≥ 30 IU/0.5 mL Diphtheria Toxoid
injection, solution
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Diphtheria Vaccine.
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 your child having Diphtheria Vaccine 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 is used for
Diphtheria Vaccine helps to prevent the disease called diphtheria.
Diphtheria is a serious illness which can be life threatening.
Primary Course:
Diphtheria Vaccine is used to vaccinate children, who have not been
vaccinated against diphtheria before. This is called the 'primary course'.
Diphtheria Vaccine is given to
- children between 2 months and 8 years of age.
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 is given' section, later in this leaflet.)
Babies under 2 months should not be given Diphtheria Vaccine.
For children 8 years and older and for adults, there is another suitable
diphtheria vaccine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions
about it.
Booster Dose:
One more (booster) dose of Diphtheria Vaccine is recommended at school
entry age (4 to 5 years) or anytime up to 8 years for children who have already
had the full primary course of Diphtheria Vaccine.
One (1) dose is needed for the booster dose.
How Diphtheria Vaccine works
Diphtheria Vaccine works by getting your child's body to produce its
own protection against the bacteria (germs) that cause diphtheria.
The vaccine does not contain live germs and cannot give your child the
illness.
After your child has Diphtheria Vaccine, your child's body makes
substances called antibodies. These antibodies fight the diphtheria germs. When
your child comes into contact with the diphtheria germs, your child's body is
usually ready to destroy them.
NOTE: Your child's body takes a few weeks after vaccination to develop
protection against the diphtheria germs. Your child needs to complete the full
primary course of injections to get full protection.
Most children who receive either
- all 3 doses, which complete the full primary course, or
- the booster dose (suitable only if in the past they have had a 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 your child is given Diphtheria Vaccine
When your child must NOT be given Diphtheria Vaccine
Do not use Diphtheria Vaccine after the expiry date printed on the pack.
Do not use Diphtheria Vaccine if the packaging is torn, shows signs of
tampering or does not look quite right.
If you are not sure whether your child should have Diphtheria Vaccine,
talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before your child is given Diphtheria Vaccine
Tell your doctor if your child has allergies to:
- Diphtheria Vaccine 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.
How Diphtheria Vaccine is given
Diphtheria Vaccine is given by a trained health professional, as an
injection into muscle.
In babies, it is usually given in the upper thigh. In children it is usually
given in the upper arm.
How much is given and when
One dose of Diphtheria Vaccine is 0.5 mL.
Primary Course
This is a total of 3 doses, given at intervals. The first dose may be given
at the age of 2 months or older. The upper age limit for this vaccine is 8
years.
The interval between doses is shown in the table below.
| Diphtheria Vaccine dose |
TIME INTERVAL after previous dose |
|---|---|
| 1 | Does not apply |
| 2 | 6-12 weeks |
| 3 | 6-12 months |
Booster Dose
A booster dose (fourth dose) at school entry age (4 to 5 years) or any
time up to 8 years is recommended.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
If you miss a dose
If your child misses a dose of Diphtheria Vaccine, talk to your doctor
and arrange another visit as soon as possible.
After having Diphtheria Vaccine
Things you must do
Keep an updated record of 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:
- your child has all three doses of the primary course of
Diphtheria Vaccine at the appropriate time intervals
- the booster dose is given at the appropriate time before your child
has their 8th birthday.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if your child is unwell
after having Diphtheria Vaccine.
All medicines, including vaccines, can have side effects. Diphtheria
Vaccine 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 may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they
worry you:
- reaction at the injection site such as temporary redness, tenderness or
swelling - a small lump at the injection site; sometimes this may last for a few
weeks
These are the more common side effects of Diphtheria Vaccine. Mostly
these are mild and short-lived.
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 your child has them, he or she may
have had a severe allergic reaction to Diphtheria Vaccine. Your child
needs urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Mostly this type of side effect occurs within the first few hours of being
given the vaccine.
These side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above might occur in some people. Tell your
doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making your child feel
unwell.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
Your child may not experience any of them.
Storing Diphtheria Vaccine
Diphtheria Vaccine is usually stored in the doctor's surgery or
clinic, or at the pharmacy. However, if you need to store Diphtheria Vaccine:
- 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
Diphtheria Vaccine. Freezing destroys the vaccine.
Product description
What Diphtheria Vaccine looks like
Diphtheria Vaccine 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 30 International Units (IU).
Other ingredients:
- Aluminium phosphate
- Sodium chloride
- Sodium phosphate - monobasic
- Sodium phosphate - dibasic dodecahydrate
- Thiomersal (preservative)
- Water for injection.
Diphtheria Vaccine does NOT contain:
- lactose
- sucrose
- gluten
- tartrazine or
- any other azo dyes.