Kinrix Vaccine
Kinrix is an immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio. It is given in a single shot to children between 4 and 6 years old. Kinrix can be used as the last dose in the DTaP and IPV (Polio) vaccine series.
What is Kinrix?
Kinrix® is a DTaP-IPV vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline that was approved in 2008. It is an inactivated bacteria and viral vaccine against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (“whooping cough”).
What is DTaP?
DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis) is a 5-dose series of shots that is given to children at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-20 months, and 4-6 years old. Kinrix is only approved for the last dose of DTaP.
What is IPV?
Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is an immunization against the viral disease polio (also known as poliomyelitis). The polio vaccine is given in a 4-dose series of shots to children at the ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years old. Kinrix is only approved for the last dose of IPV.
How many shots do I need?
One. A single dose of Kinrix is approved for the 5th DTaP vaccine and a 4th booster against Polio in children between 4 and 6 years of age. One dose of Kinrix covers both of these vaccines.
What are the most common side effects of Kinrix?
The most common side effects were injection-site pain (57%), redness (37%), swelling (26%), and increased arm circumference (36%), fever over 99.5°F (16%), drowsiness (19%), and loss of appetite (16%).
Who should not get Kinrix?
Kinrix is not safe for children who had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, or any of the other ingredients in Kinrix (see below for a complete list).
It is important to note that the tip cap on Kinrix contains latex. Kinrix also contains the antibiotics neomycin and polymyxin B. Kinrix does not contain preservatives.
Kinrix should not be given to children who have any progressive neurological condition, or children who developed encephalopathy (brain inflammation) within 7 days of a previous pertussis vaccine.
Kinrix may be more likely to cause side effects in children with latex allergies, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), seizure, fever over 105°F, or severe reactions soon after receiving a previous pertussis vaccine.
What are severe side effects of Kinrix?
- Allergic reaction
- Anaphylaxis
- Brain inflammation
- Collapse or shock-like state
- Coma
- Crying lasting 3 hours or more
- Decreased level of consciousness
- Death
- Encephalopathy
- Epilepsy
- Fainting or fall injury
- Febrile seizure (high fever causing seizures)
- Fever over 105°F
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
- Hypotonic-Hyporesponsive Episode (HHE)
- Latex allergy
- Progressive neurological disorder
- Seizure
What other side effects have been reported?
Kinrix has been linked to other severe side effects since it was introduced. These side effects were reported voluntarily, so it is unknown if they were caused by Kinrix. The possible risks include:
- Allergic reactions
- Anaphylaxis
- Angioedema
- Apnea (stop breathing temporarily)
- Bleeding disorder
- Collapse or shock-like state
- Convulsions (with or without fever)
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Hives (urticaria)
- Itching (pruritis)
- Hypotonic-Hyporesponsive Episode (HHE)
- Injection-site vesicles
- Low blood platelet count
- Lymphadenopathy
- Syncope (fainting)
- Thrombocytopenia
What else is in Kinrix?
Latex, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, aluminum hydroxide, Vero (monkey kidney) cells, calf serum, lactalbumin hydrolysate, polysorbate 80, neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B, Fenton medium (containing bovine extract), modified Latham medium (derived from bovine casein), modified Stainer-Scholte liquid medium.
Each 0.5-mL dose contains aluminum hydroxide as an adjuvant (no more than 0.6 mg aluminum), 4.5 mg of salt, less than 0.05 ng neomycin, less than 0.01 ng polymyxin B, and less than 100 mcg of residual formaldehyde and polysorbate 80 (Tween 80).
