PEDIACEL^® - The 5:1 Vaccine

Available from October 2004, for use in babies aged 2/3/4 months.

Abbreviated vaccine composition: DTaP/IPV/Hib (high-dose Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussin; inactivated Polio; Haemophylus Influenza type B).

Contains:

• Purified Diphtheria toxoid (30 I.U.)
• Purified Tetanus toxoid (40 I.U.)
• Purified Pertussis toxoid (PT)
• Inactivated Polio virus
• Haemophylus influenza type B
• Polyribosylribitol phosphate - an artificial sweetener
• Formaldehyde or gluteraldehyde
• Polio virus produced on Vero cells (African green monkey kidney cells)
• Neomycin, streptomycin and polymyxin B - antibiotics
• 2-phenoxyethanol (phenol) - a preservative
• Polysorbate 80 - an emulsifier
• Aluminium phosphate or aluminium hydroxide

Undesirable effects (reported by Dept of Health and Aventis Pasteur^®):

• HHE (hypotonic hyporesponsive episode)
• Loss of consciousness; pallor; no muscle tone (floppy)
• Persistent inconsolable crying or high-pitched screaming for 3 hours or more
• Convulsions, with or without fever
• Anorexia; diarrhoea & vomiting
• Pain, swelling and redness at the injection site
• Arthralgia (joint pain); myalgia
• Lymphadenopathy (swelling of lymph nodes)
• Acute allergic reactions; dyspnoea; cyanosis; urticaria
• Angioneurotic oedema; hypotension; and rarely, anaphylaxis

Side effects of the vaccine include adverse reactions to all of the components.

References:

• Entry for Aventis Pasteur^® on http://emc.medicines.org.uk/ (Sept 2004)
• Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (Department of Health, 2004)