Kinrix (DTaP-IPV)

Diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus are serious illnesses caused by bacteria. Polio is a serious illness caused by a virus.

Diphtheria leads to a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airway. It can cause breathing difficulties, paralysis, heart issues, or even death.

Pertussis (whooping cough) causes severe, long-lasting cough episodes that can disrupt eating, drinking, or breathing. Pertussis can result in pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death.

Polio is a life-threatening condition that impacts the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. Polio can be fatal if it paralyzes the muscles needed for breathing.

Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful muscle tightening, which can result in the jaw "locking" so the person cannot open their mouth, swallow, or breathe. Tetanus can lead to death.

Diphtheria, pertussis, and polio spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound.

The DTaP-IPV vaccine is used to help prevent these diseases in children aged 4 to 6 years who have already received DTaP and IPV vaccines. This vaccine helps your child's body build immunity to these diseases but will not treat an active infection the child might already have.

Like any vaccine, the DTaP-IPV vaccine may not protect everyone from disease.

Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, polio, or tetanus may be more dangerous to your child's health than getting this vaccine.

Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she has ever had a similar vaccine that caused any of the following:

• a severe allergic reaction to a diphtheria, pertussis acellular, polio, or tetanus (DTaP-IPV) vaccine or any ingredient in the vaccine;
• decreased consciousness, seizures, or coma within 7 days after receiving a pertussis vaccine; or
• nervous system problems or brain disorders (such as infantile spasms or uncontrolled epilepsy).

Your child may not be able to receive this vaccine if he or she has ever had a pertussis vaccine that caused:

• within 48 hours after the vaccine--a very high fever (105°F (40.5°C) or higher), excessive crying for 3 hours or longer, fainting or going into shock; or
• within 3 days after the vaccine--a seizure.

Tell your vaccination provider if your child has or has ever had:

• seizures;
• a weak immune system caused by disease or by taking certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (within 6 weeks after receiving a tetanus vaccine).

Get emergency medical help if your child shows signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Your child should not receive another shot if he or she had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep a record of all side effects your child experiences. If the child gets a booster dose, inform the vaccination provider if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Getting infected with diphtheria, pertussis, polio, or tetanus may pose a greater risk to your child's health than receiving the vaccine that protects against these diseases. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the chance of serious side effects is very low.

Call your child's doctor immediately if your child develops a fever of 105°F (40.5°C) or higher, collapses or has a shock-like episode, or cries continuously for 3 hours or longer within 48 hours after receiving a DTaP-IPV vaccine, or if your child has a seizure within 3 days after getting the vaccine.

Also call your doctor right away if your child experiences:

• fainting; or
• nervous system issues—numbness, pain, tingling, weakness, burning or prickly feelings, vision or hearing problems, trouble breathing.

Common side effects of Kinrix (DTaP-IPV) may include:

• fever, drowsiness, feeling unwell;
• headache, muscle pain;
• loss of appetite; or
• redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Contact your child's doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle.

This vaccine is given to children 4 through 6 years of age as the fifth dose in the DTaP series. It may be the fourth or fifth dose in the IPV series, depending on the vaccine history and the specific DTaP-IPV vaccine being given.

Your child's individual schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

Contact your vaccination provider if your child misses a dose or falls behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

Make sure your child gets all recommended doses of this vaccine, or the child may not be fully protected against disease.

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to happen.

Follow the vaccination provider's instructions regarding any limits on food, drinks, or activities.

Before getting this vaccine, inform the vaccination provider about all other vaccines your child has recently had.

Also, let the vaccination provider know if your child has recently taken any drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, such as:

• steroid medicine;
• cancer treatments;
• medicine for psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders; or
• medicine for preventing organ transplant rejection.

If your child is taking any of these medications, he or she may not be able to receive the vaccine or may need to wait until the other treatments are completed.

This list is not complete. Other medications may affect this vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are mentioned here.