Decavac

Brand name:

Decavac, Tenivac.

The common dosage form of this vaccine is suspension. It belongs to the therapeutic class of vaccines. Diptheria and Tetanus vaccine is a combination vaccine that is given to protect against infections caused by diphtheria and tetanus.

The vaccine works by causing the body to produce its own antibody against the diseases. The vaccine is given to children of 6 weeks and older and to teenagers and adults.

Diptheria is a life threatening disorder that can cause heart problems, nerve problems, breathing problems, pneumonia and fatally, death. It is especially serious in very young and elderly.

Tetanus is characterized by muscle spasms that can cause the muscles to become stiff. The muscle spasms can be strong enough to cause the bones fracture. The disease can also cause breathing problems, swallowing problems, seizures and possibly death.

The vaccine needs to be administered under the supervision of a doctor.

The risks of vaccines are weighed against the damage it will do and then decision is made to use the medication. The following considerations are made:

• Allergies: Discuss with your health care provider if you have allergies to any medicines. Apart from medicines, allergies to other foods, preservatives and like stuff should also be discussed. For non prescription drugs, information on labels should be carefully discussed.
• Children: Safety and efficacy have not been evaluated of the vaccine in children 7 years of age and older.
• Older Adults: Appropriate studies on the effect of age on vaccine have not been studied but no harmful effects have been demonstrated in geriatric population by the use of vaccine.
• Pregnancy: There are no adequate studies on the efficacy and safety of the use of this medicine in pregnancy.
• Breast feeding: Appropriate evidence is lacking on the impact of use of medication by breast feeding mothers on their infants.
• Interaction with other vaccines: A word of caution is to be noted on the use of vaccine with other vaccines like meningococcal vaccine, tetanus toxoid conjugate quadrivalent.
• Other interactions with certain kinds of foods, alcohol and tobacco are to be noted.
• Medical problems: Presence of other medical conditions may impact the use of vaccine:

        ‒ Allergic reaction to tetanus vaccine (Arthus type of reaction).
        ‒ History of Gullian Barre Syndrome after tetanus vaccine.
        ‒ Immunodeficiency disorder
        ‒ Other diseases that may impact an immune system.

A nurse or other trained health care professional provides the vaccine. Infants receive it in upper leg, children and adolescents at the deltoid.

Depending on the age of child, vaccine is given in a series of 3 to 4 doses.

After the first set of doses, boosters are given after every 10 years.

The exact dosage schedule needs to be followed. In case of any adverse event to the use of vaccine, an immediate consultation to your healthcare provider should be made.

Your child can develop skin rashes, hives or any allergic reactions. Be sure to notify your doctor of same.

Tell your doctor if the child is allergic to latex. The pre-filled bottles of vaccine and syringes may contain traces of latex and should be avoided.

In case a child is having an active infection, the vaccine will not help. The child needs to be first properly treated and then vaccinated.

The following side effects are known to occur:

• Fever
• Generalized feeling of illness and discomfort
• Unusual tiredness or weakness

Others may include:

• Bloating or swelling of arms, feet, leg, hands.
• Burning, crawling, itching and numbness, tingling, neurological symptoms.
• Chills
• Convulsions
• Cough
• Difficulty with swallowing
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Hives
• Itching
• Puffiness or swelling around eyes, lips, tongue.
• Rapid weight gain
• Skin rash
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling or puffiness of face
• Swollen, painful and tender lymph nodes in neck, armpit and groin
• Tightness of the chest
• Wheezing

Some side effects go away with in due course of time. They include:

• Hard lumps, redness, tenderness or warmth at the injection site
• Sometimes headache