Nowadays, the drug Priorix is widely used. The instruction says that this combined remedy is able to protect the child from several infectious diseases. However, many parents are afraid of having such a vaccine. Often people are afraid that the baby will not tolerate the injection. To understand how useful such vaccination is, it is necessary to understand the composition of the drug and its side effects.
What does the drug contain?
According to the instructions for the use of "Priorix", the composition of the drug includes weakened rubella, measles and mumps viruses (mumps). This vaccine is a combination and protects immediately from three childhood infections. Rubella and mumps strains are grown in chicken embryos, which are a breeding ground for microorganisms. The measles causative agent is cultured in human diploid cells. After growing, the viruses are dried, after which they lose their pathogenic qualities. However, the neutralized microorganisms can serve as antigens for the production of specific antibodies by the human immune system.
The drug for vaccination "Priorix" is released in the form of a lyophilisate for injection under the skin or muscle. The vaccine, in addition to attenuated strains, includes additional ingredients: egg protein, sorbitol, neomycin, mannitol and lactose.
The vaccine is a white or pinkish powder. It has a porous structure and is packaged in bottles. The package also contains ampoules with a solvent for the preparation of injections.
The principle of the vaccine
The Priorix manual states that the vaccine contains weakened but living viruses. They do not lead to the occurrence of the disease, but are antigens. In response to their introduction, the immune system produces antibodies. The vaccine is very effective and effective. Antibody formation is observed in 96 - 98% of cases. This helps to gain immunity from measles, rubella and mumps.
Indications and contraindications
Instructions for use of the vaccine "Priorix" reports that the drug can be used to prevent measles, rubella and mumps in children from 1 year. It is at the age of 12 months that it is recommended to begin a course of vaccinations.
It is also possible to vaccinate older children, as well as adults who have not had these diseases. The vaccination course is especially indicated for people who have an increased risk of infection. These include medical and teaching staff. Vaccination should also be given to women planning a pregnancy, since rubella disease during child bearing is especially dangerous.
However, not all people can be vaccinated. Instructions "Priorix" reports the following contraindications to the introduction of the vaccine:
- During the course of vaccination, the drug should not be re-administered if an allergy to its components has previously been observed.
- Vaccination is not carried out by HIV-infected, as well as AIDS patients in active form.
- Vaccinations are not given during pregnancy. Vaccination should be taken care of in advance when planning the conception of a child. After administration of the drug, contraceptives must be used within 3 months.
- If the patient has an exacerbation of chronic pathologies or infectious diseases with a high temperature, then the introduction of the vaccine is postponed until the condition normalizes.
In nursing mothers, vaccination is carried out only if the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the baby. In some cases, feeding should be interrupted.
If the patient has had any type of allergy in the past, then after vaccination he needs to be under the supervision of a doctor.
Unwanted effects
The Priorix Vaccine Dosage Guidelines the possible occurrence of unwanted symptoms after an injection. The most commonly reported side effects are:
- redness of the skin and pain at the injection site;
- temperature rise;
- skin rashes.
Fever is a natural reaction of the body. An increase in temperature means that the immune system begins to produce antibodies against a foreign antigen. Immediately after vaccination, you can give your child an antipyretic to prevent a febrile reaction.
For the prevention of rashes, you can use antihistamines 3 days before the injection. After vaccination, these medicines should also be taken for about 3 days.
In children 12 months of age after the administration of the drug Priorix, fever, runny nose, cough, and rash may occur. This is a natural phenomenon that goes away by itself after a few days. When revaccinating at 6 years old, children tolerate vaccination much better.
The following side effects in adults and children are less common:
- airway inflammation;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- crying and nervousness in a child;
- cramps
- conjunctivitis;
- arthritis (in the elderly);
- meningeal symptoms.
If a severe reaction to an injection occurs, consult a doctor. The specialist will conduct the necessary treatment and decide on the feasibility of revaccination.
Vaccination schedule
The vaccination instruction "Priorix" recommends administering the drug for the first time at 12 months. The further vaccination schedule differs in different countries. It is determined by the National vaccination calendar. In Russia, after the first injection in 1 year, revaccination is carried out at 6 years. Further, the vaccine is repeated only for girls aged 13 years.
How is the vaccine administered?
The powder is dissolved in an injection liquid, which is in ampoules. They are attached to the lyophilisate in each package. The drug is administered in a dosage of 0.5 ml. You can do either subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. Intravenous injections are strictly prohibited by the instructions for use of "Priorix". The place of introduction of the vaccine is the region of the forearm; an injection in the thigh is also allowed.
Compatibility with other drugs
This drug can be administered on the same day as pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus vaccines, as well as against hemophilic infection, polio and hepatitis B. In this case, the vaccination solution must be prepared in different syringes and injected into different parts of the body.
If a person has been previously vaccinated with other combination drugs for measles, rubella and mumps, then Priorix can be used for revaccination.
This vaccine may distort the results of tuberculin tests. Therefore, the Priorix instruction recommends that such tests be performed either on the same day as the vaccine, or 6 weeks after it. Otherwise, tuberculosis tests can give a false negative result.
The drug interacts with alcohol and other disinfectants, which are used to treat the injection site. Therefore, you need to wait for the evaporation of such solutions from the skin, and only then give an injection. Otherwise, disinfectants can destroy weakened viruses.
Drug storage
The Priorix vaccine manual recommends storing the package with powder and solvent at a temperature of +2 to +8 degrees. It is important to prevent freezing of the liquid. If the solvent is located separately from the lyophilisate, then its storage temperature should not be more than +25 degrees.
If the solution has already been prepared for injection, then it must be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of +2 to +8 degrees and used for 8 hours.
Analogues of the drug
The vaccine is produced by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (Belgium). In Russia, this drug has been used since 2001, the cost of vaccination is about 1000 rubles.
However, there is a domestic analogue of this drug. Parents of children are often interested in which vaccine is better. The Russian vaccine "Mumps-measles vaccine" protects against only two infections. The rubella drug must be administered separately. Priorix prevents three childhood infections. As a result, the child will have to undergo only one injection, which reduces stress for the child’s body.
However, the domestic preparation does not contain chicken egg protein, which some people are allergic to. This component is part of the "Priorix". Therefore, it is better for allergy sufferers to be vaccinated with a domestic vaccine.
The Russian drug can be administered for free. Prioriks vaccination is carried out only on a fee basis.
As for the composition of domestic and foreign drug, it is almost the same. Both vaccines contain live attenuated viruses. Side effects of the two drugs are almost similar.
Vaccine Reviews
You can find a lot of positive reviews about the "Priorix" from the parents of the children. People say that this drug is convenient because it is a multivalent vaccine. Only one injection is needed, and the child will be protected from the three most common childhood diseases. After the injection, some showed a slight increase in temperature, runny nose, and rashes. However, these side effects were not pronounced and did not violate the child’s usual lifestyle.
However, not all children tolerated this drug well. In addition to the rash and fever, some babies had an incidence of influenza in the post-vaccination period. Negative feedback is associated with this. Instructions for use "Priorix" recommends protecting the child from contact with sick children and adults after vaccination. During the formation of antibodies to viruses, the body may be vulnerable to other infections.
Also, many mothers write that they gave children the antihistamine Zirtek before and after vaccination. This helped to avoid rashes and other side effects.