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Immunization has saved more lives in Canada in the last 50 years than any other health measure.
This vaccine protects against 6 diseases:
The vaccine is approved by Health Canada and is provided free as part of your child’s routine immunizations. Call your health care provider to make an appointment.
Babies get the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine as a series of 3 doses at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. They get the vaccine at the same time as other childhood immunizations.
| DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine | Child's age at immunization |
| 1st dose | 2 months |
| 2nd dose | 4 months |
| 3rd dose | 6 months |
A booster dose of DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccine is given at 18 months of age. This vaccine does not contain the hepatitis B vaccine because children completed their hepatitis B vaccine series in infancy. For more information, visit HealthLinkBC File #15b Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-IPV-Hib) vaccine.
It is important to keep a record of all immunizations received.
The vaccine is the best way to protect your child against six serious and sometimes fatal diseases. When you get your child immunized, you help protect others as well.
Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than it is to get one of the diseases.
Common reactions to the vaccine may include soreness, redness and swelling where the vaccine was given. Some children may have a fever or experience crankiness, restlessness, vomiting, diarrhea, persistent crying or a loss of appetite. These reactions are mild and usually last 1 to 2 days.
Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol®) or ibuprofen* (e.g. Advil®) can be given for fever or soreness. ASA (e.g. Aspirin®) should not be given to anyone under 18 years of age due to the risk of Reye syndrome.
*Ibuprofen should not be given to children under 6 months of age without first speaking to your health care provider.
For more information on Reye syndrome, please visit HealthLinkBC File #84 Reye syndrome.
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine. There is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This happens in less than one in a million people who get the vaccine. Symptoms may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. If this reaction occurs, your health care provider is prepared to treat it. Emergency treatment includes administration of epinephrine (adrenaline) and transfer by ambulance to the nearest emergency department. If symptoms develop after you leave the clinic, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
Always report serious or unexpected reactions to your health care provider.
Speak with a health care provider if your child has had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, or Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine, or any part of the vaccine, including neomycin and polymyxin B.
Children who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 8 weeks of getting a tetanus vaccine, without another cause being identified, should not get the DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine. GBS is a rare condition that can result in weakness and paralysis of the body's muscles. It most commonly occurs after infections, but in rare cases can also occur after some vaccines.
The vaccine is not usually given to people 7 years of age and older.
There is no need to delay getting immunized because of a cold or other mild illness. If you have concerns, speak with your health care provider.
Diphtheria is a serious infection of the nose and throat caused by diphtheria bacteria. The bacteria are spread through the air by people sneezing or coughing or by direct skin-to-skin contact. The disease can result in very severe breathing problems. It can also cause heart failure and paralysis. About 1 in 10 people who get diphtheria may die.
Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is caused by bacteria mostly found in soil. When the bacteria enter the skin through a cut, scrape or wound, they produce a poison that can cause painful tightening of muscles all over the body. It is very serious if the breathing muscles are affected. Up to 1 in 5 people who get tetanus may die.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a serious infection of the airways caused by pertussis bacteria. The bacteria are easily spread by coughing, sneezing or close face-to-face contact. Pertussis can cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage or death. These complications are seen most often in infants. Pertussis can cause severe coughing that often ends with a whooping sound before the next breath. This cough can last several months and occurs more often at night. About 1 in 170 infants who get pertussis may die.
Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. It can cause serious disease including permanent liver damage (cirrhosis). Hepatitis B is also one of the main causes of liver cancer, which can be fatal. The hepatitis B virus spreads through contact with blood or body fluids from a person infected with the virus. Pregnant people with hepatitis B can pass the virus to their newborn baby during delivery. Young children who get infected with the hepatitis B virus often do not have symptoms but many will stay infected for life. This is why it is important to protect your child by getting them immunized at a young age.
Polio is a disease caused by infection with poliovirus. While most poliovirus infections show no symptoms, others can result in paralysis of arms or legs and even death. Paralysis occurs in about 1 in 200 people who get infected. Polio can be spread by contact with the stool of an infected person. This can happen from eating food or drinking water contaminated with stool.
Haemophilus influenzae type b are bacteria that most commonly infect children under 5 years of age. The bacteria can cause serious and life-threatening infections including meningitis, an infection of the lining that covers the brain, and septicemia, an infection of the blood. Haemophilus influenzae type b infection is spread by coughing, sneezing or having close face-to-face contact. For every 20 children who get sick, 1 may die.
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