Who should have the vaccination?
How is the vaccine given?
What is diphtheria?
What is tetanus?
What is pertussis (whooping cough)?
What is polio?
What is Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)?
Can this vaccine be given with other vaccines?
Can a child's body cope with so many vaccines at once?
How safe is this vaccine?
What are the most common side effects of the vaccination?
How soon after the vaccination can I take my baby swimming?
Who should have the vaccination?
The DTaP/IPV/Hib vaccination is recommended for babies when they are 8, 12 and 16 weeks old.
How is the vaccine given?
The vaccine is injected into your baby's thigh.
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial disease that usually begins with a sore throat and can quickly develop to cause severe breathing problems (see the Health A-Z topic about diphtheria). It can damage the heart and nervous system, and can be fatal. Diphtheria can spread through close contact with an infected person.
What is tetanus?
Tetanus is a painful disease that affects the muscles and can cause breathing problems (see the Health A-Z topic about tetanus). It is caused by bacteria that are found in soil and manure, which can get into the body through open cuts or burns. Tetanus can kill.
What is pertussis (whooping cough)?
Whooping cough is a disease that can cause spells of severe coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe (see the Health A-Z topic about whooping cough). It lasts for up to 10 weeks. It is not usually serious in older children, but it can be very serious or fatal in babies under one year old.
What is polio?
Polio is a virus that attacks the nervous system and can permanently paralyse the muscles in the arms and legs (see the Health A-Z topic about polio). If it affects the chest muscles, it can kill.
What is Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)?
The Hib bacteria can cause a number of serious diseases, including epiglottitis (a severe form of croup) or meningitis.
Can this vaccine be given with other vaccines?
Yes, DTaP/IPV/Hib may be given at the same time as the meningococcal C conjugate (MenC) and hepatitis B vaccines, but should be injected in a different site.
Can a child's body cope with so many vaccines at once?
Every day, small children have contact with thousands of germs. They pick them up off the floor or in the garden when crawling or toddling about. They get them off toys that have been shared or in their toy box. Their skin (if you looked at it under a microscope) is covered in thousands of germs: some good, some bad.
Babies and toddlers routinely shrug off the threat that these germs may pose. Their immune system is designed to do this. Far from overloading them, vaccines help their immune system to build up extra resistance. This means they are better protected against potentially serious diseases.
How safe is this vaccine?
Before a vaccine can be licensed for use, it has to go through many tests to check that it is safe and that it works. These checks continue even after a vaccine has been introduced. Only vaccines that pass all of the safety tests are used to protect your children.
Visit the Vaccine safety page for more information on how vaccines are tested.
What are the most common side effects of the vaccination?
Your child may get pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. They might be more irritable and feel slightly unwell (see DTaP/IPV/Hib - side effects for more information).
How soon after the vaccination can I take my baby swimming?
You can take your baby swimming at any time, both before and after they have been vaccinated.
