(Click Pentacel Uses for more information on what the medication is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
Thimerosal Content and Other Concerns
Pentacel does not contain thimerosal (a mercury-containing preservative). Parents who are concerned about exposing their children to thimerosal can be confident that this vaccine has no thimerosal (not even trace amounts). Some parents are concerned about the aluminum content of vaccines; Pentacel does contain aluminum (0.33 mg per dose).
Some parents are concerned about the use of human or animal components in vaccines. Part of this vaccine is grown in a cell line derived from an aborted human fetus. This cell line is grown using calf serum.
Pentacel is made by Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.
This vaccine contains several different components, including tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis antigens, Hib polysaccharides, and an inactivated (killed) polio virus. None of the components of this vaccine are "live," which means that the vaccine cannot cause diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, or polio. This is especially important for polio, since a different polio vaccine (the oral polio vaccine) can, in rare cases, actually cause polio.
Simply stated, the components of this vaccine "trick" the body into thinking it has been exposed to these different infections. The body produces antibodies that will help fight the infections if future exposure occurs.
When and How to Get Pentacel
Some general considerations include the following:
- This vaccine is typically given as a four-dose series, given at 2, 4, 6, and 15 to 18 months of age.
- If your child has already received doses of DTaP, a Hib vaccine, or a polio vaccine, a modified Pentacel dosing schedule (perhaps with fewer doses) may be recommended.
- For children under one year of age, this vaccine is injected into a muscle (intramuscularly), usually in the thigh. In older children, the upper arm can be used.
- Children can be vaccinated if they have a minor illness, such as the common cold. However, the vaccine should be postponed if the child is moderately or severely ill.
Dosing Information
There is only one standard recommended dosage for this vaccine, although the exact vaccination schedule may vary, depending on which vaccines the child has previously received.
As with any vaccine, Pentacel may cause side effects. However, not everyone who receives the vaccine will experience side effects. In fact, most children tolerate it well, with only minor side effects (if any). If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Some of the most common side effects include, but are not limited to:
- Fussiness or irritability
- Inconsolable crying
- Lethargy
- Injection site reactions such as pain, swelling, or redness
- Fever.
(Click Pentacel Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Pentacel: What Should I Tell My Child's Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your child's healthcare provider before your child receives this vaccine if your child has:
- An immune-suppressing condition such as HIV or AIDS, diabetes, or cancer
- A bleeding disorder
- Had any sort of a reaction to any vaccine in the past
- A moderate or severe illness
- A brain or nervous system disorder
- Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Make sure to tell the healthcare provider about any medicines your child is taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Pentacel should be stored in the refrigerator. The vaccine should never be frozen.
Each dose of this vaccine consists of two separate components -- a liquid component (which contains the DTaP and inactivated polio vaccines) and a freeze-dried component (which contains the Hib vaccine). The two components are mixed together before injection.
Is There a Generic Version of Pentacel?
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