All Hands On Deck, This Is Serious

Help protect your child against 5 very dangerous and in some cases deadly diseases.1 Below you'll find the information on illnesses that can threaten your child's life.2,8

Pertussis
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease of the respiratory tract that is especially dangerous to young children.9 It can cause coughing spells so bad that it's hard for infants to eat, drink, or breathe.8 It is also known as the "cough of 100 days" because it can last, relentlessly, for months.10 In some cases, it can lead to pneumonia, seizures, or even death.10 In areas where vaccination rates are low, whooping cough is on the rise.8

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
Hib disease is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by bacteria.11 It occurs primarily in infants and children younger than 5 years of age.11 It's most often spread by coughing and sneezing.11 People can carry and spread the bacteria without knowing it or showing symptoms.11 Hib can cause pneumonia, severe swelling of the throat, infections of the blood, joints, bones, covering of the heart, permanent brain damage, and death.11

Tetanus
Tetanus is a bacterial infection that gets into the body through soil-contaminated cuts or wounds.12 It causes a severe and painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body.12 Tetanus usually has a descending pattern, starting with lockjaw, preventing swallowing, then stiffness in the neck causing difficulty breathing.12 Painful muscle spasms can last for weeks.12 The disease can be fatal, especially among the elderly and those not previously vaccinated with tetanus vaccine.12

Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a potentially deadly bacterial infection that's spread through coughing and sneezing.13 It usually affects the tonsils, pharynx, larynx, and occasionally, the skin.14 It causes a thick covering in the back of the throat that can compromise breathing and may even lead to suffocation.14,15 The toxins produced by diphtheria bacteria can cause paralysis, heart failure, and death.14,15

Polio
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that can damage the nervous system and cause paralysis within several days.16,17 It is especially devastating to children younger than 5 years of age.18 At one time, countless children were paralyzed or lost their lives to this disease.8 Although polio is rare in the United States, it still occurs in some parts of the world.8 Continuous routine immunization is the only effective means against polio re-emergence.8

Indication
Pentacel vaccine is given as a 4-dose series to children 6 weeks through 4 years of age (prior to fifth birthday) to help prevent diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and infections (eg, meningitis) caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Safety Information
Side effects to Pentacel vaccine include injection site redness, swelling, and tenderness; fever, fussiness, and crying. Other side effects may occur. Tell the doctor if your child has ever experienced a severe brain disorder, such as encephalopathy (altered consciousness), Guillain-Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness), or if side effects occurred following a previous dose of pertussis-containing vaccine.

There is a small risk of allergic reactions. Some signs of allergic reactions are hives, swelling of the throat, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and shock. If your child begins experiencing any of these signs seek treatment right away. These reactions are rare and usually occur before leaving the doctor's office. If you notice any other problems or symptoms following vaccination, please contact your child's health-care professional promptly. Vaccination with Pentacel vaccine may not protect all people receiving the vaccine.

Please talk to your health-care provider for more information.

Learn more about Pentacel vaccine. Find all the details in the Pentacel vaccine Prescribing Information.

Pentacel vaccine is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur Limited and Sanofi Pasteur SA and distributed by Sanofi Pasteur Inc.