Adt Vaccine Consumer Medicine Information

Diphtheria and Tetanus Vaccine, Adsorbed (Diluted for Adult Use)
≥ 2 IU/0.5 mL Diphtheria Toxoid, ≥ 20 IU/0.5 mL Tetanus Toxoid
injection, solution

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about ADT® Vaccine.

It does not contain all the available information.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines, including vaccines, have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you or your child (of eight years or older) having ADT® Vaccine against the benefits they expect it will have.

If you have any concerns about this vaccine, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet.

You might need to read it again.

What ADT ® Vaccine is used for

ADT® Vaccine is a "combination" vaccine. It helps prevent two diseases, each caused by a different infection. The diseases are

  • diphtheria and
  • tetanus.

Both of these infections are serious and can be life-threatening.

Primary Course:

ADT ® Vaccine is used to vaccinate people who have not been vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus before. This is called the 'primary course'.

ADT® Vaccine is given to

  • children 8 years of age and over, and
  • adults.

A total of three (3) doses is needed for the primary course. The second and third doses are given after an appropriate time interval. (See 'How ADT® Vaccine is given' section, later in this leaflet.)

Booster Dose:

ADT® Vaccine is also given as an additional dose (booster dose) about every 10 years for people who have already had the full primary course of ADT® Vaccine.

One (1) dose is needed for the booster dose.

How ADT ® Vaccine works

ADT® Vaccine works by getting your body to produce its own protection against the two types of bacteria (germs). The germs are those that cause two different and serious infections

  • diphtheria and
  • tetanus.

The vaccine does not contain live germs and cannot give you these illnesses.

After you have ADT® Vaccine, your body makes substances called antibodies. These antibodies fight both the diphtheria and the tetanus germs. When you come into contact with these germs, your body is usually ready to destroy them.

NOTE: Your body takes a few weeks after vaccination to develop protection against the diphtheria and tetanus germs. You need to complete the full primary course of injections to get full protection.

Most people who receive either

  • all 3 doses, which completes the full primary course, or
  • the booster dose (suitable only if in the past they have had the full primary course against diphtheria and tetanus),

will produce enough antibodies to protect against both the diphtheria and tetanus diseases.

However, as with all vaccines, 100% protection cannot be guaranteed.

Before you are given ADT ® Vaccine

When you or your child must NOT be given ADT ® Vaccine

Do not give ADT® Vaccine to a child under 8 years of age.

ADT® Vaccine is not suitable for children under 8 years of age.

Do not use ADT® Vaccine after the expiry date printed on the pack.

Do not use ADT® Vaccine if the packaging is torn, shows signs of tampering, or does not look quite right.

If you are not sure whether you or your child should have ADT® Vaccine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

 

Before you or your child are given ADT ® Vaccine

Tell your doctor if you or your child have allergies to:

  • ADT® Vaccine, Tetanus Vaccine, Diphtheria Vaccine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
  • any other medicines
  • any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

As for all vaccines, medical supervision and treatment should be available in case there is a severe allergic reaction.

Tell your doctor if you or the person to be immunised are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of having ADT® Vaccine during pregnancy.

How ADT ® Vaccine is given

ADT® Vaccine is given by a trained health professional, as an injection into muscle.

How much is given and when

One dose of ADT® Vaccine is 0.5 mL.

 

Primary Course

This is a total of 3 doses, given at intervals.

ADT®Vaccine
dose		 TIME INTERVAL
after previous dose
1 Does not apply
2 6-12 weeks
3 6-12 months

 

Booster Dose

For the booster dose, 1 dose is given every ten (10) years.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

If you miss a dose

If you or your child miss a dose of ADT® Vaccine, talk to your doctor and arrange another visit as soon as possible.

After having ADT ® Vaccine

Things you must do

Keep an updated record of your vaccinations or your child's vaccinations.

Keep follow-up appointments with your doctor or clinic.

In order to make sure the vaccine has the best chance of providing protection against diphtheria and tetanus disease, it is important that:

  • you or your child have all three doses of the primary course of ADT® Vaccine at the appropriate time intervals
  • the booster dose is given approximately 10 years after a full primary course.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you or your child feel unwell after having ADT® Vaccine.

All medicines, including vaccines, can have side effects. ADT® Vaccine may have unwanted side effects in some people. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You or your child may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you have.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

  • reaction at the injection site such as temporary redness, tenderness or swelling
  • a small lump at the injection site; sometimes this may last for a few weeks.

Allergic reaction:

As with all vaccines given by injection, there is a very small risk of a severe allergic reaction.

If any of the following happen, tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:

  • sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
  • shortness of breath
  • collapse

These are very serious side effects. If you or your child have them, you may have had a severe allergic reaction to ADT® Vaccine. You or your child need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Mostly this type of side effect occurs within the first few hours of being given the vaccine.

Other side effects not listed above might occur in some people. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you or your child feel unwell.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.

You or your child may not experience any of them.

Storing ADT ® Vaccine

ADT® Vaccine is usually stored in the doctor's surgery or clinic, or at the pharmacy. However, if you need to store ADT® Vaccine:

  • Keep it where children cannot reach it.
  • Keep it in the original pack until it is time for it to be injected.
  • Keep it in the refrigerator, between 2°C and 8°C. DO NOT FREEZE ADT® Vaccine.

Freezing destroys the vaccine.

Product description

What ADT ® Vaccine looks like

ADT® Vaccine is supplied as a single dose (0.5 mL) in a glass container. It is a whitish, cloudy liquid.

 

Ingredients

Active ingredients:

  • Diphtheria Toxoid: at least 2 International Units (IU)
  • Tetanus Toxoid: at least 20 IU.

Other ingredients:

  • Aluminium phosphate
  • Sodium chloride
  • Sodium phosphate - monobasic
  • Sodium phosphate - dibasic dodecahydrate
  • Thiomersal (preservative)
  • Water for injection.

ADT® Vaccine does NOT contain:

  • lactose
  • sucrose
  • gluten
  • tartrazine or
  • any other azo dyes.

Date of preparation

December 2001