What is Adacel: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

How to take Adacel

• Missed dose: It is important that you or your child receive all of the shots. Try to keep all scheduled appointments. Make another appointment as soon as possible if you or your child misses a dose of this vaccine.

• You may receive other vaccines at the same time as this one, but in a different body area. You should receive patient instructions for all of the vaccines. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions.

• Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

• Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• You will receive the first dose of Adacel® or Boostrix® 5 years or more after the last dose of a DTaP series or tetanus toxoid vaccine. The second dose may be given 8 years or more for Adacel® or 9 years or more for Boostrix® after the first dose of Tdap vaccine.

• To prevent tetanus, a booster dose of Adacel® or Boostrix® may be given if it has been at least 5 years after you have received a tetanus toxoid vaccine.

• You will receive the first dose of Adacel® or Boostrix® 5 years or more after the last dose of a DTaP series or tetanus toxoid vaccine. The second dose may be given 8 years or more for Adacel® or 9 years or more for Boostrix® after the first dose of Tdap vaccine.

• Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

• You may receive other vaccines at the same time as this one, but in a different body area. You should receive patient instructions for all of the vaccines. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions.

• To prevent tetanus, a booster dose of Adacel® or Boostrix® may be given if it has been at least 5 years after you have received a tetanus toxoid vaccine.

• Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles.

• Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

• Missed dose: It is important that you or your child receive all of the shots. Try to keep all scheduled appointments. Make another appointment as soon as possible if you or your child misses a dose of this vaccine.

• Missed dose: If this vaccine is part of a series of vaccines, it is important that your child receive all of the shots. Try to keep all scheduled appointments. If your child must miss a shot, make another appointment as soon as possible.

• Your child may also receive medicines to help prevent or treat some minor side effects of the vaccine.

• Other vaccines may be given at the same time as this one. You should receive other information sheets on those vaccines. Make sure you understand all the information given to you.

• A nurse or other health professional will give this vaccine. The vaccine is given as a shot into a muscle. Most children will receive a series of 5 shots.

• Your child may also receive medicines to help prevent or treat some minor side effects of the vaccine.

• Other vaccines may be given at the same time as this one. You should receive other information sheets on those vaccines. Make sure you understand all the information given to you.

• A nurse or other health professional will give this vaccine. The vaccine is given as a shot into a muscle. Most children will receive a series of 5 shots.

• Missed dose: If this vaccine is part of a series of vaccines, it is important that your child receive all of the shots. Try to keep all scheduled appointments. If your child must miss a shot, make another appointment as soon as possible.

What to do if you miss a dose of Adacel

Adacel contraindications

• This vaccine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to the separate or combined tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis vaccine. You should not receive this vaccine if you have had seizures or changes in consciousness within 7 days after you received a pertussis vaccine.

• This vaccine may not be right for everyone. Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she had an allergic or other serious reaction to tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis vaccine. Tell the doctor if you child has seizures or other nervous system problems.

Adacel warnings

• Severe muscle weakness, sleepiness, or drowsiness

• Seizures

• Lightheadedness or fainting

• Tell the doctor if your child is allergic to latex rubber or if your child has been sick or had a fever recently.

• This vaccine may cause the following problems:Guillain-Barré syndrome

• Tell the doctor if your child has a bleeding disorder or a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Also tell the doctor if your child has had a severe reaction to a vaccine, including fever or prolonged crying. Make sure the doctor knows if your child was premature.

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have epilepsy, a weak immune system, unstable brain or nerve disorders, or a history of a stroke. Tell your doctor if you are sick or have a fever, or if you have a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome after you received a tetanus toxoid vaccine.

• This vaccine may increase your risk for severe nerve and muscle problems (including Guillain-Barré syndrome, brachial neuritis).

• Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to latex. The tip caps of the prefilled syringes may contain dry natural latex rubber.

• This vaccine will not treat an active infection. If you have a diphtheria, tetanus, or pertussis infection, you will need medicine to treat the infection.

• Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

• Seizures

• Sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs

• Severe pain, redness, or swelling where the shot was given

Adacel interactions

• Some medicines can affect how Tdap vaccine works. Tell your doctor if you are receiving a treatment or medicine that weakens your immune system (including cancer medicine, radiation treatment, or steroid medicines).

• Tell your doctor about any reaction you had after you received a vaccine. This includes fainting, seizures, a fever over 105 degrees F, or severe redness or swelling where the shot was given. Tell your doctor if you have a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome after you received a vaccine with tetanus.

• Call your doctor right away if you faint or have vision changes, numbness or tingling in your arms, hands, or feet, or a seizure after you receive this vaccine.

• Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to latex. The syringes may contain dry natural latex rubber.

• This vaccine will not treat an active infection. If you have a diphtheria, tetanus, or pertussis infection, you will need medicine to treat the infection.

• Tell the doctor if your child is allergic to latex rubber or if your child has been sick or had a fever recently.

• This vaccine may cause the following problems:Guillain-Barré syndrome

• Some foods and medicines can affect how DTaP vaccine works. Tell the doctor if your child has recently received any of the following:Immune globulin Blood thinner (such as warfarin)Any treatment that weakens the immune system, such as cancer medicine, radiation treatment, or a steroid