Boostrix Vaccine
Boostrix is a Tdap vaccine that is given in a single booster shot. Boostrix is an immunization for teenagers and adults against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
How many Tdap shots do you need?
How long does Boostrix last for?
Is Boostrix a live vaccine?
Who should get Boostrix?
Who should NOT get Boostrix?
Do I need a booster shot?
What are common side effects of Boostrix?
What are severe side effects of Boostrix?
What else is in Boostrix?
Can Boostrix cause SIRVA?
What is SIRVA?
Where can I get more information?
What is Boostrix?
Boostrix® is a Tdap vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) that is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It was approved in the United States in 2005. Boostrix is administered as a single 0.5-mL injection in the deltoid muscle of the upper arm.
How many Tdap shots do you need?
One. Most teenagers get a single shot of Tdap when they are 11 or 12 years old. Adults who did not get it at that age can still get a single shot of Boostrix.
How long does Boostrix last for?
Boostrix should provide immunity for 10 years.
Is Boostrix a live vaccine?
No. Boostrix contains tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, which are modified bacterial toxins that trigger the body to develop immunity, but they can’t actually cause the disease. Boostrix also contains acellular pertussis, which is just one part of the bacteria that causes pertussis, and it can’t cause the disease.
Who should get Boostrix?
Most teenagers get Boostrix or another Tdap vaccine called Adacel when they are about 11 years old, or about 5 years after they finish the DTaP immunization schedule. Boostrix can be given to children as young as 10 years old or adults up to 64 years old.
Who should NOT get Boostrix?
Boostrix should not be given to anyone who had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of any vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, or pertussis, or any of the other ingredients in Boostrix (see below for a list).
Boostrix also should not be given to anyone who had encephalopathy (e.g., come, decreased level of consciousness, prolonged seizures) within 7 days of a previous vaccine against pertussis.
Boostrix may pose higher risks for people who have:
- Latex allergies — the tip cap on the pre-filled syringe has a natural rubber latex that can trigger allergic reactions.
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of a previous vaccine against tetanus
- Progressive or unstable neurological conditions
- Athrus-type hypersensitivity reaction to a previous tetanus vaccine, unless at least 10 years has passed
What are common side effects of Boostrix?
In teenagers between 10 and 18 years old, the most common side effects of Boostrix were pain (75%), redness (22%), and swelling at the injection site (21%), increase in arm circumference of the injected arm (28%), headache (43%), fatigue (37%), gastrointestinal symptoms (26%), and fevers over 99.5ºF (13.5%).
In adults between 19 and 64 years old, the most common side effects of Boostrix were pain (61%), redness (21%), and swelling at the injection site (18%), headache (30%), fatigue (28%), gastrointestinal symptoms (16%), and fever over 99.5ºF (5.5%).
Over 15% of elderly adults over 65 years old reported pain at the injection site. Boostrix is not approved for anyone over 65.
What are severe side effects of Boostrix?
- Allergic reaction
- Anaphylaxis
- Brachial neuritis
- Brain damage
- Cerebrovascular events
- Coma
- Death
- Decreased level of consciousness
- Encephalopathy (brain inflammation)
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Extensive swelling
- Facial palsy
- Fainting and fall injuries
- Febrile seizure (high fever causing seizure
- Fever over 105ºF
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- Heart inflammation (myocarditis)
- Hypersensitivity reactions (Arthus-type)
- Joint pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Progressive neurological condition
- Seizures
What else is in Boostrix?
Boostrix contains tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and inactivated acellular pertussis antigens.
Each 0.5-mL shot of Boostrix contains aluminum hydroxide as adjuvant (not more than 0.39 mg aluminum), 4.4 mg of salt, less than 100 mgc of formaldehyde, and less than 100 mcg of polysorbate 80 (Tween 80).
The ingredients in Boostrix include: Modified Latham medium derived from bovine casein, Fenton medium containing a bovine extract, formaldehyde, modified Stainer-Scholte liquid medium, glutaraldehyde, aluminum hydroxide, sodium chloride, and polysorbate 80.
Can Boostrix cause SIRVA?
When a Boostrix vaccine is injected into the upper arm, it can potentially cause Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), a devastating condition that can cause disability.
What is SIRVA?
SIRVA is an inflammatory reaction to the vaccine. It is believed to occur when the needle is injected too high or too deep into the shoulder bursa or other sensitive tissues, resulting in severe pain.
