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In the U.S. today, the polio vaccine is usually administered in a combination shot that also contain vaccines for tetanus (T), diphtheria (D), pertussis (whooping cough) (P). Additional vaccines may also include Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (HIB) and/or hepatitis B vaccine.  The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) currently recommends administration of a polio containing vaccine at two, and four months old; between 6 and 18 months old; and between four and six years old.

Polio Vaccines Licensed for Use in the U.S.

Following is a list of currently available vaccines that contain the polio vaccine with links to the manufacturer product inserts (click on the name of the product):

  • IPOL, a polio vaccine containing inactive poliovirus (Monkey Kidney Cell) for individuals 6 weeks of age and older.
  • Pediarix, a 5 in 1 combination shot containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis, hepatitis B recombinant and inactivated poliovirus vaccines for children under 7 years of age. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
  • Kinrix, a 4 in 1 combination vaccine containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, acellular pertussis and inactivated poliovirus vaccines for children 4 to 6 years old. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
  • Quadracel, a 4 in 1 combination vaccine containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis and inactivated poliovirus vaccine for children 4 to 6 years old. It is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur
  • Pentacel, a 5 in 1 combination shot containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis, inactivated poliovirus and Haemophilus b conjugate (tetanus toxoid conjugate) vaccine for children under four years old. It is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur Ltd.
  • VAXELIS, a 6 in 1 combination shot containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis, inactivated poliovirus, Haemophilus b conjugate, and hepatitis B recombinant vaccine for children under 5 years of age. It is manufactured by MCM Vaccine Company. (Not currently available for use)

Combination Vaccines

There are some doctors who limit the numbers of vaccines given simultaneously on the same day and will work as partners with parents to choose certain vaccine products and develop individualized schedules for vaccination. If you want your child to receive polio vaccine but would prefer the vaccine to be administered alone, talk with your doctor.

If your doctor or the nurse administering vaccines refuses to have a discussion with you about vaccine products or schedules, you may want to consider consulting one or more other trusted health care professionals before making a vaccine decision.

Not all polio-containing vaccines have been studied in clinical trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of giving the shot simultaneously with other licensed vaccines. Check the product inserts for more information about administering vaccines at the same time with other vaccines.

About IPOL in Brief

  • Ages: IPOL inactivated poliovirus vaccine is approved for use in individuals 6 weeks of age and older (see Sanofi Pasteur product insert for recommended schedule and other indications.)
  • Vaccine Ingredients: VERO cells (a continuous line of monkey kidney cells), calf bovine serum albumin, polymyxin B, M-199 medium, 2-phenoxyethanol, formaldehyde, neomycin, streptomycin.
  • Estimated Efficacy: After two doses of IPOL (or IPOL in combination with DTP vaccine) was given during the first year of life, 84 to 100 percent of vaccine recipients developed antibodies considered to be protective against poliovirus (Poliovirus type 1- 88 to 100 percent) (Poliovirus type 2- 84 to 100 percent) (Poliovirus type 3 – 94 to 100 percent) depending on the study. When three doses of IPOL were given during the first year of life, 89 to 100 percent of children developed antibodies considered protective against polio (Poliovirus type 1 - 93 to 100 percent) (Poliovirus type 2 - 89 to 100 percent) (Poliovirus type 3 -97 to 100 percent). After a fourth dose of IPOL was administered between 12 and 18 months of age, 100 percent of vaccine recipients developed antibodies considered protective against all three strains of poliovirus.
  • Use with Other Vaccines: In pre-licensing clinical trials, IPOL was given with whole cell DTP vaccine. The IPOL package insert reports that IPOL can be administered simultaneously with hepatitis B, HIB, and DTaP; however, no information is available on administering IPOL with MMR, pneumococcal (PCV13), hepatitis A, or influenza vaccine.
  • Pre-licensing Clinical comparison studies: Clinical trials to assess the safety of IPOL prior to licensing did not include a placebo-control group. According to the package insert, in pre-licensing clinical trials, IPOL was administered at the same time as diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine adsorbed (DTP) vaccine – “Because IPV was given in a different site but concurrently with Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (DTP), these systemic reactions could not be attributed to a specific vaccine. However, these systemic reactions were comparable in frequency and severity to that reported for DTP given alone without IPV.” 
  • Commonly Reported Adverse Events: Local injection site reactions (pain, redness, and induration); fever; sleepiness; irritability; fussiness; crying; anorexia; vomiting; and fatigue.
  • Other Serious Reported Adverse Events: convulsion, including febrile convulsion; somnolence; paresthesia; headache; injection site rash and mass; agitation; lymphadenopathy; anaphylactic reaction and anaphylactic shock; hypersensitivity; rash; urticaria; arthralgia; myalgia; and death.
  • Contraindications and precautions (Some reasons why IPOL should notbe given – See Sanofi Pasteur product insert for complete list):
    • Hypersensitivity to any ingredient found within the vaccine, including polymyxin B, neomycin, streptomycin, formaldehyde, and 2-phenoxyethanol
    • Anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock occurring within 24 hours of a previous vaccine dose
    • Acute febrile illness – vaccination should be deferred until a person has recovered

NVIC NOTE: Some doctors only vaccinate children who are healthy and are not sick with a coinciding viral or bacterial infection at the time of vaccination. If you do not want your acutely ill baby vaccinated and your doctor disagrees with you, you may want to consider consulting one or more other trusted health care professionals before vaccinating.

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with IPOL. It is not known whether IPOL can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproductive capacity. It is not known if IPOL is excreted in human milk.  IPOL has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.

About Pediarix Vaccine in Brief

  • Ages: Pediarix is a 5 in 1 shot (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio and recombinant hepatitis B vaccines) given to children under age 7 (see GlaxoSmithKline product insert for recommended schedule and other indications.)
  • Vaccine Ingredients: Aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, aluminum salts, sodium chloride, polysorbate 80 (Tween 80), neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B, yeast protein, VERO cells, a continuous line of monkey kidney cells, calf serum and lactalbumin hydrolysate, fenton medium containing a bovine extract, modified Latham medium derived from bovine casein, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, modified Stainer-Scholte liquid medium.
  • Estimated Efficacy: Antibody responses to polio were tested one month following 3 doses of Pediarix administered in concomitantly with Hib vaccine and PCV7 (Prevnar 7) vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months. At this time, 100 percent of vaccine recipients were found to have blood antibody levels considered to be protective against all three poliovirus strains.
  • Use with Other Vaccines: In clinical trials, Pediarix was given with HIB conjugate vaccine (no longer licensed in the U.S.) or pneumococcal vaccines (PCV7). There is no information in the product insert about the safety or effectiveness of giving Pediarix simultaneously with inactivated or live influenza, rotavirus, or hepatitis A vaccines.
  • Pre-licensing Clinical comparison studies: Clinical trials to assess the safety of Pediarix prior to licensing did not include a placebo-control group.
  • Commonly Reported Adverse Events: Local injection site reactions (pain, redness, or swelling); fussiness, high fever (Pediarix is associated with higher rates of fever relative to separately administered vaccines. The prevalence of fever was highest on the day of vaccination and the day following vaccination).
  • Other Serious Reported Adverse Events: High fever that required medical attention (In a safety study that evaluated medically attended fever after Pediarix or separately administered vaccines when co-administered with 7-valent pneumococcal and Hib conjugate vaccines, infants who received Pediarix had a higher rate of medical encounters for fever within the first 4 days following the first vaccination); febrile and afebrile convulsions (seizures); gastroenteritis, bronchiolitis; asthma, diabetes mellitus, and chronic neutropenia; anaphylactic reactions (hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, hypotension or shock); and demyelinating diseases.
  • Contraindications and precautions (Some reasons why Pediarix should not be given to a child – See GlaxoSmithKline product insert for complete list):
    • Temperature of 105 F. or higher within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination, not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • Collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes) within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Persistent crying lasting 3 hours or more within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Convulsions with or without fever, occurring within 3 days of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Serious allergic reaction to a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Encephalopathy (coma, decreased level of consciousness, prolonged convulsions) within 7 days of a previous pertussis vaccination not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • Children with a progressive neurologic disorder (such as infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy);
    • Sensitivity to any component of Pediarix, including yeast or neomycin and polymyxin B (antibiotics);
    • Apnea following intramuscular vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely. Pediarix vaccine product insert warns that the decision to vaccinate an infant born prematurely should take into consideration both the potential risks and possible benefits of vaccination;
    • The tip caps of prefilled Pediarix syringes contain latex and may cause an allergic reaction in persons sensitive to latex;
    • If Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurred within 6 weeks of receiving a tetanus containing vaccine, careful assessment of the possible risks and potential benefits should be completed prior to considering Pediarix vaccine.

NVIC NOTE: Some doctors only vaccinate children who are healthy and are not sick with a coinciding viral or bacterial infection at the time of vaccination. If you do not want your acutely ill baby vaccinated and your doctor disagrees with you, you may want to consider consulting one or more other trusted health care professionals before vaccinating.

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Pediarix. It is not known whether Pediarix can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproductive capacity. Pediarix has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.

About Kinrix Vaccine in Brief

  • Ages: Kinrix is a 4 in 1 shot (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio vaccines) given to children 4 to 6 years old (see GlaxoSmithKline product insert for recommended schedule and other indications).
  • Vaccine Ingredients: Aluminum hydroxide, VERO cells, a continuous line of monkey kidney cells, calf serum, lactalbumin hydrolysate, fenton medium containing a bovine extract, modified Latham medium derived from bovine casein, formaldehyde, modified Stainer-Scholte liquid medium, glutaraldehyde, sodium chloride, polysorbate 80 (Tween 80), neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B.
  • Estimated Efficacy: Antibody responses to poliovirus type 1, type 2, and type 3 were tested in children between 4 and 6 years of age who previously received doses of IPV vaccine, 4 doses of INFANRIX (DTaP), and 1 dose of MMR vaccine. Kinrix was administered simultaneously with the second dose of MMR vaccine and antibodies levels were tested one-month post-vaccination. At this time, nearly 100 percent vaccine recipients were found to have blood antibody levels considered to be protective against all three poliovirus strains (type 1 – 99.9 percent; Type 2 – 100 percent; Type 3 – 100 percent).
  • Pre-licensing Clinical comparison studies: Clinical trials to assess the safety of Kinrix prior to licensing did not include a placebo-control group.
  • Use with Other Vaccines: In clinical trials, Kinrix was administered simultaneously with the second dose of MMR or MMR and varicella vaccine. There is no information in the product insert about the safety or effectiveness of giving Kinrix simultaneously with inactivated or live influenza, hepatitis B, or hepatitis A vaccines.
  • Commonly Reported Adverse Events: Injection site pain, including redness, swelling and increase in arm circumference; drowsiness; fever; and loss of appetite.
  • Other Serious Reported Adverse Events: Gastroenteritis, dehydration, and cellulitis. After licensure (post-marketing), reported adverse event have also included apnea, collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode), convulsions (with or without fever), injection site vesicles, pruritus (intense itching), allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, lympadenopathy, and thrombocytopenia.
  • Contraindications and precautions (Some reasons why Kinrix should not be given to a child – See GlaxoSmithKline product insert for complete list):
    • Temperature of 105 F. or higher within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination, not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • Collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes) within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Persistent crying lasting 3 hours or more within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Convulsions with or without fever, occurring within 3 days of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Serious allergic reaction to a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Encephalopathy (coma, decreased level of consciousness, prolonged convulsions) within 7 days of a previous pertussis vaccination not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • Children with a progressive neurologic disorder (such as infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy);
    • Severe allergic reaction to any component of Kinrix, including neomycin and polymyxin B (antibiotics);
    • The tip caps of prefilled Kinrix syringes contain latex and may cause an allergic reaction in persons sensitive to latex;
    • If Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurred within 6 weeks of receiving a tetanus containing vaccine, careful assessment of the possible risks and potential benefits should be completed prior to considering Kinrix vaccine.

NVIC NOTE: Some doctors only vaccinate children who are healthy and are not sick with a coinciding viral or bacterial infection at the time of vaccination. If you do not want your acutely ill baby vaccinated and your doctor disagrees with you, you may want to consider consulting one or more other trusted health care professionals before vaccinating.

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Kinrix. It is not known whether Kinrix can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproductive capacity. Kinrix has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.

About Quadracel Vaccine in Brief

  • Ages: Quadracel is a 4 in 1 shot (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio vaccines) given to children 4 to 6 years old (see Sanofi Pasteur product insert for recommended schedule and other indications).
  • Vaccine Ingredients: Aluminum phosphate, Stainer-Scholte medium, casamino acids, dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin, MRC-5 cells, normal human diploid cells, CMRL 1969 medium supplemented with calf serum, modified Mueller’s growth medium, ammonium sulfate, modified Mueller-Miller casamino acid medium without beef heart infusion, formaldehyde, 2-phenoxyethanol, polysorbate 80, glutaraldehyde, neomycin, polymyxin B sulfate.
  • Estimated Efficacy:  Antibody responses to poliovirus (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3) were tested in children between 4 and 6 years of age 28 days following Quadracel administered simultaneously MMR, and varicella vaccines. At this time, 100 percent of vaccine recipients were found to have blood antibody levels considered to be protective against all three poliovirus strains.
  • Pre-licensing Clinical comparison studies: Clinical trials to assess the safety of Quadracel prior to licensing did not include a placebo-control group.
  • Use with Other Vaccines: In clinical trials, Quadracel was administered simultaneously with the MMR and varicella. There is no information in the product insert about the safety or effectiveness of giving Quadracel simultaneously with inactivated or live influenza, hepatitis A, or hepatitis B vaccines.
  • Commonly Reported Adverse Events: Injection site pain, including redness, swelling and increase in arm circumference; malaise; muscle pain; headache.
  • Other Serious Reported Adverse Events: After licensure (post-marketing) reported adverse event reports have also included cyanosis; convulsions (with or without fever); injection site abscess; injection site cellulitis; pallor; screaming; allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis; urticarial, and dyspnea.     
  • Contraindications and precautions (Some reasons why Quadracel should not be given to a child – See Sanofi Pasteur product insert for complete list):
    • Serious allergic reaction following administration of a pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, or polio containing vaccine or any ingredient of Quadracel vaccine;
    • Encephalopathy (coma, decreased level of consciousness, prolonged convulsions) within 7 days of a previous pertussis vaccination not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • Children with a progressive neurologic disorder (such as infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy);
    • Seizures within 3 days of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Temperature of 105 F. or higher within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination, not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • If Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurred within 6 weeks of receiving a tetanus containing vaccine, careful assessment of the possible risks and potential benefits should be completed prior to considering Quadracel vaccine.

NVIC NOTE: Some doctors only vaccinate children who are healthy and are not sick with a coinciding viral or bacterial infection at the time of vaccination. If you do not want your acutely ill baby vaccinated and your doctor disagrees with you, you may want to consider consulting one or more other trusted health care professionals before vaccinating.

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Quadracel. It is not known whether Quadracel can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproductive capacity. Quadracel has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.

About Pentacel Vaccine in Brief

  • Ages: Pentacel is a 5 in 1 shot (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio and Haemophilus influenzae b conjugate vaccines) for children under age 5 (see Sanofi Pasteur product insert for recommended schedule and other indications).
  • Vaccine Ingredients: Aluminum phosphate, polysorbate 80, sucrose, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, bovine serum albumin, 2-phenoxyethanol, MRC-5 cells (a line of normal human diploid cells), CMRL 1969 medium supplemented with calf serum, Medium 199 without calf serum, modified Mueller and Miller medium, neomycin, polymyxin B sulfate, modified Mueller’s growth medium, ammonium sulfate, modified Mueller-Miller casamino acid medium without beef heart infusion, Stainer-Scholte medium, casamino acids, dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin.
  • Estimated Efficacy: Antibody responses to polio were tested one month following 3 doses of Pentacel at 2, 4, and 6 months. At this time, 99.4 percent of vaccine recipients were found to have blood antibody levels considered to be protective against poliovirus.
  • Pre-licensing Clinical comparison studies: Clinical trials to assess the safety of Pentacel prior to licensing did not include a placebo-control group.
  • Use with Other Vaccines: In clinical trials, Pentacel was given with hepatitis B, pneumococcal, MMR or varicella vaccines. There is no information in the product insert about the safety or effectiveness of giving Pentacel simultaneously with inactivated or live influenza, rotavirus, or hepatitis A vaccines
  • Commonly Reported Adverse Events: Systemic reactions that occurred in clinical trials in more than 50 percent of participants following any dose included: fussiness/irritability and inconsolable crying; fever; injection site reactions, including tenderness, abscess and increase in arm circumference. Cases of encephalopathy and death occurred in clinical trials but were not causally attributed to Pentacel vaccine by investigators.
  • Other Serious Reported Adverse Events: After licensure (post marketing), there have been reports of febrile and afebrile convulsions (seizures); bronchiolitis, gastroenteritis, dehydration, pneumonia, lethargy/somnolence; hypotonic/hyporesponsive episode (collapse); apnea; cyanosis; and asthma.
  • Contraindications and precautions (Some reasons why Pentacel should not be given to a child – See Sanofi Pasteur product insert for complete list):
    • Temperature of 105 F. or higher within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination, not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • Collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes) within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Persistent crying lasting 3 hours or more within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Convulsions with or without fever, occurring within 3 days of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Serious allergic reaction to a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Encephalopathy (coma, decreased level of consciousness, prolonged convulsions) within 7 days of a previous pertussis vaccination not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • Children with a progressive neurologic disorder (such as infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy);
    • Severe allergic reaction to any component of Pentacel, including neomycin and polymyxin B (antibiotics);
    • Apnea following intramuscular vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely. The Pentacel vaccine product insert warns that the decision to vaccinate an infant born prematurely should take into consideration both the potential risks and possible benefits of vaccination;
    • If Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurred within 6 weeks of receiving a tetanus containing vaccine, careful assessment of the possible risks and potential benefits should be completed prior to considering Pentacel vaccine.

NVIC NOTE: Some doctors only vaccinate children who are healthy and are not sick with a coinciding viral or bacterial infection at the time of vaccination. If you do not want your acutely ill baby vaccinated and your doctor disagrees with you, you may want to consider consulting one or more other trusted health care professionals before vaccinating.

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Pentacel. It is not known whether Pentacel can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproductive capacity. Pentacel has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.

About VAXELIS Vaccine in Brief

  • Ages: VAXELIS is a 6 in 1 shot (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae b (Meningococcal Protein Conjugate) and hepatitis B (recombinant vaccines) for infants and children 6 weeks through 4 years of age (prior to the 5th birthday) (see MCM company product insert for recommended schedule and other indications).
  • Vaccine Ingredients: Aluminum, polysorbate 80, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, bovine serum albumin, neomycin, streptomycin sulfate, polymyxin B sulfate, yeast protein, ammonium thiocyanate, Mueller’s growth medium, Mueller-Miller casamino acid medium without beef heart infusion, ammonium sulfate, aluminum phosphate, Stainer-Scholte medium, Vero cells, extract of yeast, soy peptone, dextrose, amino acids, mineral salts, amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate.
  • Estimated Efficacy: One month following the administration of 3 doses of VAXELIS, 100 percent of vaccine recipients were found to have antibodies considered protective against all 3 strains of poliovirus.
  • Pre-licensing Clinical comparison studies: Clinical trials to assess the safety of VAXELIS prior to licensing did not include a placebo-control group.
  • Use with Other Vaccines: In clinical trials, VAXELIS was given with pneumococcal (Prevnar 13) and rotavirus (RotaTeq) vaccines. There is no information in the product insert about the safety or effectiveness of giving VAXELIS simultaneously with inactivated or live influenza, hepatitis A, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), varicella, or measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMR-V) vaccines.
  • Commonly Reported Adverse Events: Systemic reactions that occurred in clinical trials following any dose included: injection site redness, swelling, and pain; fever; crying; decreased appetite; irritability; vomiting; and somnolence.
  • Other Serious Reported Adverse Events: In the two U.S. clinical trials, 6 deaths were reported but were determined by trial investigators not to be caused by VAXELIS. These deaths included sepsis, asphyxia, hydrocephalus, unknown cause, and two cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). As VAXELIS is not currently available for use in the United States, post-marketing data on serious adverse events are limited to those events considered to have a causal link to the vaccines containing the antigens of VAXELIS. These include anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity, seizures, including febrile seizures, and excessive swelling of the injected limb.
  • Contraindications and precautions (Some reasons why VAXELIS should not be given to a child – See MCM Vaccine Company product insert for complete list):
    • Temperature of 105 F. or higher within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination, not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • Collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes) within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Persistent crying lasting 3 hours or more within 48 hours of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Convulsions with or without fever, occurring within 3 days of a previous pertussis vaccination;
    • Serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of VAXELIS, any ingredient found in VAXELIS, or any other tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, pertussis-containing vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, inactivated poliovirus vaccine, or H. influenzae type b vaccine;
    • Encephalopathy (coma, decreased level of consciousness, prolonged convulsions) within 7 days of a previous pertussis vaccination not attributable to another identifiable cause;
    • Children with a progressive neurologic disorder (such as infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy);
    • If Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurred within 6 weeks of receiving a tetanus containing vaccine, careful assessment of the possible risks and potential benefits should be completed prior to considering VAXELIS vaccine;
    • Apnea following intramuscular vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely. The decision to vaccinate an infant born prematurely should be careful based on both the possible benefits and potential risks of vaccination.

NVIC NOTE: Some doctors only vaccinate children who are healthy and are not sick with a coinciding viral or bacterial infection at the time of vaccination. If you do not want your acutely ill baby vaccinated and your doctor disagrees with you, you may want to consider consulting one or more other trusted health care professionals before vaccinating.

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with VAXELIS. It is not known whether VAXELIS can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproductive capacity. VAXELIS has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.

IMPORTANT NOTE: NVIC encourages you to become fully informed about Polio and the Polio vaccine by reading all sections in the Table of Contents, which contain many links and resources such as the manufacturer product information inserts, and to speak with one or more trusted health care professionals before making a vaccination decision for yourself or your child. This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

 


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