HealthLinkBC File #105, February 2013

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b
(DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib) Vaccine

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Keep your child safe.
Get all shots on time.
By getting all shots on time, your child can be protected from many diseases over a lifetime.

Immunization has saved more lives in Canada in the last 50 years than any other health measure.

What is the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine?

This vaccine protects against 6 diseases:

The vaccine is approved by Health Canada and is provided free as part of your child's routine immunizations. Call your health care provider to make an appointment.

Who should get the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine?

Children between 2 months and 7 years of age who have not had any other vaccines containing DTaP should get the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine.

DTaP-IPV-Hib-HB Vaccine Child's Age at Immunization
1st dose 2 months of age
2nd dose 4 months of age
3rd dose 6 months of age

The vaccine is given as a series of 3 doses or shots. The first dose is given at 2 months of age, the second at 4 months, and the third at 6 months of age. The vaccine is given at the same time as other childhood immunizations.

It is important to keep a record of all immunizations received.

What are the benefits of the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine?

This vaccine is the best way to protect your child against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. These diseases can be serious and can even cause death. When you get your child immunized, you also help protect others.

What are possible reactions after the vaccine?

Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than it is to get sick from 1 of these diseases.

Common reactions to the vaccine may include soreness, redness and swelling where the shot was given. Some children may have a fever or experience crankiness, restlessness, persistent crying or a loss of appetite. These reactions are mild and usually last 1 to 2 days.

Acetaminophen or Tylenol® can be given for fever or soreness. ASA or Aspirin® should NOT be given to anyone under 20 years of age due to the risk of Reye Syndrome.

For more information on Reye Syndrome, please see HealthLinkBC File #84 Reye Syndrome.

It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. If this happens after you leave the clinic, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. This reaction can be treated, and occurs in less than 1 in a million people who get the vaccine.

It is important to always report serious or unexpected reactions to your health care provider.

Who should not get the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine?

Speak with a health care provider if your child has had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, or Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine, or any component of the vaccine, including neomycin, polymyxin B or latex.

People who developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within 8 weeks of getting a tetanus vaccine should not get the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine. GBS is a rare condition that can result in weakness and paralysis of the body's muscles. It most commonly occurs after infections, but in rare cases can also occur after some vaccines.

The vaccine is not given to people 7 years of age and older.

What are Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b?

Diphtheria is a serious infection of the nose and throat caused by diphtheria bacteria. The bacteria are spread through the air by people sneezing or coughing or by direct skin-to-skin contact. The disease can result in very severe breathing problems. It can also cause heart failure and paralysis. About 1 in 10 people who get diphtheria may die.

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is caused by bacteria mostly found in the soil. When the bacteria enter the skin through a cut or scrape, they produce a poison that can cause painful tightening of muscles all over the body. It is very serious if the breathing muscles are affected. Up to 1 in 5 people who get tetanus may die.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a serious infection of the airways caused by pertussis bacteria. Pertussis can cause pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage or death. These complications are seen most often in infants. The bacteria are easily spread by coughing, sneezing or close face-to-face contact. Pertussis can cause severe coughing that often ends with a whooping sound before the next breath. This cough can last several months and occurs more often at night. About 1 in 170 infants who get pertussis may die.

Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It can cause serious disease including permanent liver damage called cirrhosis. Hepatitis B is also the main cause of liver cancer, which can be fatal. Hepatitis B virus is spread from 1 infected person to another by contact with blood or body fluids. Mothers who are infected with hepatitis B virus can pass the virus to their newborn babies during delivery. When young children get infected with hepatitis B virus they often do not have symptoms but most will stay infected for life. This is why getting protection from the vaccine at a young age is important.

Polio is a disease caused by infection with a virus. While most polio infections show no symptoms, others can result in paralysis of arms or legs and even death. Paralysis occurs in about 1 in 200 people infected with the polio virus. Polio can be spread by contact with the bowel movements (stool) of an infected person. This can happen from eating food or drinking water contaminated with stool.

Haemophilus influenzae type b is a bacteria that most commonly infects children under 5 years of age. It can cause serious and life-threatening infections including meningitis, an infection of the lining that covers the brain, and septicemia, an infection of the blood. Haemophilus influenzae type b infection is spread by coughing, sneezing or having close face-to-face contact. For every 20 children who get sick, 1 may die.


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