Infanrix Vaccine
Infanrix an immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. It is given in a 5-dose series of shots to children between the ages of 2 months and 6 years old.
What is Infanrix?
Infanrix® is a DTaP vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline that was approved in 1997. It is an inactivated bacterial vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (also known as “whooping cough”).
What is DTaP?
DTaP is an immunization against three diseases that are caused by bacteria: Diphtheria (D), Tetanus (T), and or Pertussis (P). Infanrix contains acellular pertusssis (the “a” in DTaP) and modified bacterial toxins (toxoids) of diphtheria and tetanus.
How many shots do I need?
Infanrix is given in a 5-dose series of shots to children under 7 years old. One shot of Infantix is administered at each of the following ages:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 15-20 months
- 4-6 years old
What dose is more likely to cause side effects?
Fever was common (20-30%) after Doses 1, 2, and 3. Injection-site reactions like pain, redness, and swelling were more common after Doses 4 or 5, with the rates ranging from 10-53%. Around 15-60% of children had drowsiness, irritability/fussiness, or loss of appetite.
What are the most common side effects of Infanrix?
- Pain, redness, swelling
- Fever
- Drowsiness
- Irritability
- Fussiness
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
Who should not get Infanrix?
Infanrix should not be given to children who had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a diphtheria, tetanus, or pertussis vaccine, latex, or other ingredients in Infanrix (see below for a list).
It is also not safe for children who have progressive neurological disorders, or encephalopathy within 7 days of a previous vaccine.
What are severe side effects of Infanrix?
- Allergic reaction to latex in the syringe tip caps
- Anaphylaxis
- Apnea (stop breathing temporarily)
- Brain inflammation
- Collapse or shock-like state
- Death
- Encephalopathy
- Fainting
- Fever over 104°F
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- Hypotonic-Hyporesponsive Episode (HHE)
- Large swelling reactions (2.3%)
- Persistent crying for 3 hours or more
- Progressive neurological disorder
- Seizures
What other side effects have been reported?
Infanrix has been linked to other side effects, but because these reports are voluntary, it is unknown if they were actually caused by Infanrix. The potential risks include:
- Apnea (stop breathing temporarily)
- Bronchitis
- Blood disorders
- Brain inflammation
- Cellulitis
- Cyanosis or “Blue Baby Syndrome”
- Ear pain
- Encephalopathy
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Fainting
- Lymphadenopathy
- Respiratory tract infection
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Thrombocytopenia
What else is in Infanrix?
Formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, aluminum hydroxide, polysorbate 80, Fenton medium (containing bovine extract), modified Latham medium (derived from bovine casein), modified Stainer-Scholte liquid medium.
Each 0.5-mL dose of Infanrix contains aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant (not more than 0.625 mg aluminum), 4.5 mg of salt, and trace amounts of formaldehyde and polysorbate 80 (Tween 80).
