What is Revaxis used for?
Revaxis is a booster vaccination against these diseases. It is given to teenagers at 14 years of age as part of the British immunisation schedule.
This vaccine may also be recommended if you have not had a booster in the last ten years and you are travelling to an area of the world where there is a high risk of contracting these diseases or poor access to medical care. You can get advice from your doctor, pharmacist or a travel health clinic to find out if this vaccine is recommended.
You may also be given a dose of this vaccine if you have a wound that is likely to get infected with the bacteria that cause tetanus and you haven't had a booster against tetanus in the last ten years.
How does Revaxis work?
Revaxis contains diphtheria toxoid (a modified toxin produced by the bacteria that causes diphtheria), tetanus toxoid (a modified toxin produced by the bacteria that causes tetanus) and an inactivated form of the virus that causes polio. This combination vaccine works by stimulating the body's immune response to these organisms, without actually causing the diseases.
When the body is exposed to foreign organisms such as viruses, bacteria and bacterial toxins, the immune system produces antibodies against them. Antibodies help the body recognise and kill the foreign organisms. The antibodies remain in the body to help protect the body against future infections with the same organism. This is known as active immunity.
The immune system produces different antibodies for each foreign organism it encounters. This establishes a pool of antibodies that helps protect the body from various different diseases.
This combination vaccine causes the immune system to produce antibodies that protect the body against diphtheria, tetanus and polio.
How is Revaxis given?
- Revaxis is given by injection into the muscle of the upper arm.
- You may be be given the injection under the skin rather than into the muscle if you are at risk of bleeding following an injection into the muscle, for example because you have haemophilia or low levels of platelets in your blood (thrombocytopenia).
What should I know before having the Revaxis vaccine?
- This vaccine can be given to people whose immune systems are chronically suppressed, either by disease such as HIV infection or by treatment such as chemotherapy, however the vaccine may be less effective in these people. (For more information about immunosuppressive treatment see end of page.)
Who should not have the Revaxis vaccine?
- People with a sudden feverish illness (the vaccine should be postponed until after recovery).
- People who have previously had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to the antibiotics neomycin, streptomycin or polymixin B.
- People who experienced neurological complications (affecting the brain or spinal cord) following a previous vaccination against diphtheria and/or tetanus.
Revaxis should be used with caution in
- People who developed a nerve problem called Guillain-Barré syndrome or brachial neuritis after a previous dose of tetanus vaccine.
Can I have the Revaxis vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Certain vaccines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other vaccines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before having any vaccine.
- Inactivated vaccines such as this one are generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. However, the manufacturer states that this vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women unless it is considered urgent to boost immunity. Ask your doctor for advice before having this vaccine if you are, or think you might be pregnant.
- This vaccine may be given to breastfeeding women.
What are the possible side effects of Revaxis?
Vaccines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this vaccine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people having this vaccine will experience that or any side effect.
Very common (affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Pain, redness, swelling or hardening of the skin at the injection site.
Common (affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Sensation of spinning (vertigo).
- Fever (high temperature).
Uncommon (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 people)
- Swollen glands.
- Pain in the muscles.
- Feeling generally unwell.
Rare (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 10,000 people)
- Pain in the joints.
- Temporary pain, tingling or numbness in the vaccinated limb.
- Nerve disorders such as Guillain Barre syndrome or brachial neuritis.
- Abdominal pain.
- Flu-like symptoms.
- Allergic reactions.
If you think you have experienced a side effect from a vaccine you should get advice from your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. If they think it's necessary they'll report it for you. Did you know you can also report side effects yourself using the yellow card website?
Can the Revaxis vaccine affect other vaccines or medicines?
Revaxis is not known to affect any medicines. It can be given to people whose immune systems are suppressed by treatment such as immunosuppressant medicines or chemotherapy. However, unless this treatment is long-term, it is recommended that, where practical, vaccination is postponed until the immunosuppressive treatment is finished, as the vaccine may be less effective in these people.
Revaxis may be given at the same time as other vaccines, but if so it should be administered into a separate site and preferably into a separate limb.