Daptacel

Daptacel is a vaccine for prevention against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), and pertussis (whooping cough).

Daptacel is a vaccine given as a shot into the thigh or upper arm. 

Common side effects of Daptacel include tenderness, redness, and swelling at the injection site. 

Daptacel is a vaccine for prevention against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), and pertussis (whooping cough) as a five-dose series in infants and children 6 weeks through 6 years of age (prior to seventh birthday).

• Aventis Pasteur Inc.

• Sanofi Pasteur, Inc

Side effects reported with Daptacel include:

• tenderness, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• fever
• fretfulness
• anorexia
• drowsiness
• prolonged crying (greater than one hour)
• vomiting

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or unusual symptoms after you receive Daptacel. For a complete list of side effects, ask your health care provider.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you use:

• immunosuppressive therapies, including irradiation, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, cytotoxic drugs and corticosteroids

This is not a complete list of Daptacel drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. 

• Allergic reactions. Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of  allergic reactions, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • rash
• Adverse reactions with prior pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination. If any of the following events occur within the specified period after receiving a pertussis vaccine, the decision to get Daptacel vaccine should be based on careful consideration of potential benefits and possible risks.
  • Temperature of ≥40.5°C (105°F) within 48 hours, not attributable to another identifiable cause.
  • Collapse or shock-like state (hypotonic-hyporesponsive episode (HHE)) within 48 hours.
  • Persistent, inconsolable crying lasting ≥3 hours within 48 hours.
  • Seizures with or without fever within 3 days.
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Brachial Neuritis. There is a causal relationship between tetanus toxoid and both brachial neuritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves.  Brachial neuritis is a term used to describe an inflammation of a network of nerves that originate near the neck and shoulder (brachial plexus) that causes sudden-onset shoulder and arm pain, followed by weakness and/or numbness.
• Previous history of seizures. For infants or children with a history of previous seizures, an appropriate fever reducer may be given at the time of vaccination and for the following 24 hours, to reduce the possibility of post-vaccination fever.
• Limitations of vaccination. Vaccination with Daptacel vaccine may not protect all individuals.
• Altered immunocompetence. If Daptacel vaccine is administered to immunocompromised persons, including persons receiving immunosuppressive therapy, the expected immune response may not be obtained.
• Premature infants may temporarily stop breathing. Short instances of no breathing following intramuscular vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely. The decision about when to administer Daptacel to an infant born prematurely should be based on consideration of the individual infant's medical status and the potential benefits and possible risks of vaccination.
• Fainting. Fainting has been reported following vaccination with Daptacel.

Do not get Daptacel if you or your child:

• had a severe allergic reaction (eg, anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of Daptacel vaccine or any other tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, or pertussis-containing vaccine, or any other component of this vaccine
• had encephalopathy (eg, coma, decreased level of consciousness, prolonged seizures) within 7 days of a previous dose of a pertussis containing vaccine that is not attributable to another identifiable cause
• have progressive neurologic disorder, including infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Daptacel, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication. 

Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child:

• had a severe allergic reaction (eg, anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of Daptacel vaccine or any other tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, or pertussis-containing vaccine, or any other component of this vaccine
• had encephalopathy (eg, coma, decreased level of consciousness, prolonged seizures) within 7 days of a previous dose of a pertussis containing vaccine that is not attributable to another identifiable cause
• have progressive neurologic disorder, including infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy

Tell you doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. 

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Daptacel falls into category C. No studies have been conducted in animals, and no well-controlled studies have been done in pregnant women. Daptacel should only be given to a pregnant woman if clearly needed. 

Tell your doctor is you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

It is not known if Daptacel crosses into human milk. Because some vaccines can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this vaccine, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this vaccine. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Daptacel.

Daptacel is a vaccine given by a healthcare provider as a five-dose series in infants and children 6 weeks through 6 years of age (prior to seventh birthday).

In infants younger than 1 year, the shot is given into the thigh. In older children, the upper arm is preferred for the shot. 

Daptacel is a vaccine given by a healthcare provider as a shot into the thigh or upper arm. 

Daptacel vaccine is to be administered as a 5 dose series at 2, 4 and 6 months of age (at intervals of 6-8 weeks), at 15-20 months of age and at 4-6 years of age. The first dose may be given as early as 6 weeks of age. 

Daptacel is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting. It is unlikely that an overdose will occur in this setting. However, if overdoes is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.