ProQuad is a measles, mumps, rubella and varicella virus vaccine. Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella are serious diseases caused by viruses spread from person to person through the air or by skin to skin contact.

The ProQuad vaccine is used to help prevent these diseases in children. This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small dose of the virus or a protein from the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. ProQuad will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Measles virus can cause minor symptoms such as skin rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, or mild fever. It can also cause more serious symptoms such as ear infection, pneumonia, seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.

Mumps virus causes fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen glands. More more serious symptoms include hearing loss, painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, swelling around the brain or spinal cord, or (rarely) death.

Rubella virus (also called German Measles) causes skin rash, fever, sore throat, headache, eye irritation, and joint pain. Becoming infected with rubella during pregnancy can result in a miscarriage or serious birth defects.

Varicella (chickenpox) can cause fever, tiredness, headache, loss of appetite, and a breakout of fluid-filled blisters on the skin. Chickenpox is usually mild, but it can lead to severe skin infection, breathing problems, brain damage, or death. A person who has had chickenpox can develop herpes zoster (also called shingles) later in life, which causes severe nerve pain, and hearing or vision problems, which may last for months or years.

ProQuad vaccine is for use in children between the ages of 12 months and 12 years old.

Like any vaccine, ProQuad vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.

ProQuad vaccine is usually given only once when the child is between 12 months and 12 years old. If a booster dose is needed, At least 3 months should pass between the first and second doses of ProQuad.

Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life threatening allergic reaction after the first shot. Your child can still receive ProQuad if he or she has a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this vaccine. Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving ProQuad. If the child ever needs to receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella is much more dangerous to your child's health than receiving ProQuad. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Do not give your child salicylates such as aspirin, Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others for at least 6 weeks after receiving ProQuad. A serious condition called Reye's Syndrome has been reported in patients with chickenpox who take aspirin or salicylates.

ProQuad is given in the arm or thigh. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor's office, clinic setting, or pharmacy.

ProQuad is usually given only once when the child is 12 to 15 month old. A booster dose may be given between 4 and 6 years of age.

If your child has received any other measles vaccine, at least 1 month should pass between that vaccine and the ProQuad vaccine.

If your child has received any other varicella vaccine, at least 3 months should pass between that vaccine and the ProQuad vaccine.

Your child's booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow the doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

ProQuad can cause false results on a skin test for tuberculosis for up to 6 weeks. Tell any doctor who treats your child if he or she has received the ProQuad vaccine within the past 4 to 6 weeks.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Varicella-Zoster -- Prophylaxis:

1 dose (0.5 mL) subcutaneously in the outer deltoid or higher anterolateral thigh.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Vaccination:

1 dose (0.5 mL) subcutaneously in the outer deltoid or higher anterolateral thigh.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Mumps Prophylaxis:

1 dose (0.5 mL) subcutaneously in the outer deltoid or higher anterolateral thigh.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Rubella Prophylaxis:

1 dose (0.5 mL) subcutaneously in the outer deltoid or higher anterolateral thigh.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Measles Prophylaxis:

1 dose (0.5 mL) subcutaneously in the outer deltoid or higher anterolateral thigh

Comments:
-The first dose is usually administered at 12 to 15 months of age.
-A second dose, if needed, is usually administered at 4 to 6 years of age.

Use: Active immunization for the prevention of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children 12 months through 12 years of age.

Your child should not receive ProQuad if he or she is allergic to gelatin or neomycin, or if he or she has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella.

Your child should also not receive the ProQuad vaccine if he or she has:

• fever;

• active tuberculosis that is not being treated;

• a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicine); or

• if she is pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the next 3 months.

To make sure ProQuad is safe, tell your doctor if your child has ever had:

• allergy to eggs;

• a family member with a weak immune system;

• any medical problems;

• a history of seizures or a family history of seizures;

• recently had a blood transfusion or has received an immune globulin or other blood products;

• any allergies;

• had an allergic reaction to any other vaccine; or

• has or had a low blood platelet count.

Although ProQuad is normally given only to children, a pregnant woman should not receive this vaccine because it may cause birth defects. Any female receiving the ProQuad vaccine should not get pregnant for 3 months after getting the vaccine.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.

Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of ProQuad, or the child may not be fully protected against disease.

An overdose of ProQuad is unlikely to occur.

For 6 weeks after receiving ProQuad vaccine:

• Do not give your child salicylate medicine (such as aspirin, Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol, and others). A serious condition called Reye's Syndrome has been reported in patients with chickenpox who take aspirin or salicylates.

• Your child should avoid coming into contact with anyone who could easily get infected with chickenpox. This may include newborn infants, pregnant women who have never had chickenpox, and anyone who has a weak immune system. ProQuad may not cause your child to have symptoms of chickenpox. However, there is a chance that varicella virus could be passed from a recently vaccinated child to anyone who may be susceptible to chickenpox.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to ProQuad (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving ProQuad. If the child ever needs to receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.

Call the doctor at once if your child has any of these serious side effects:

• a high fever;

• walking problems;

• seizures;

• severe skin problems or skin infection;

• fever, chills, cough with mucus, chest pain, feeling short of breath;

• stiff neck, light sensitivity;

• confusion; or

• easy bruising, purple or red spots under your skin.

Common ProQuad side effects may include:

• pain, tenderness, soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given;

• fever;

• rash that looks like chickenpox; or

• irritability.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

ProQuad is sometimes given at the same time as other vaccines. Before receiving ProQuad, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has recently received.

Also tell the doctor if your child has recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:

• steroid medicine;

• chemotherapy or radiation treatments;

• medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders; or

• medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection.

If your child is receiving any of these medications, he or she may not be able to receive the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine , including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.