Proquad (Measles, Mumps, Rubella And Varicella Virus Vaccine Live)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is ProQuad Used For?
ProQuad is a vaccine that helps protect children from four serious infectious diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox (varicella). It’s given to children aged 12 months to 12 years.
Primary Uses
ProQuad prevents measles (which causes high fever, rash, and can lead to brain infection), mumps (causes swollen glands and can affect testicles in males), rubella (dangerous for pregnant women as it can cause birth defects), and chickenpox (causes itchy blisters and can lead to serious complications like pneumonia or brain inflammation).
How It Works
ProQuad contains weakened strains of living measles, mumps, rubella and varicella viruses that cause mild or no symptoms. When injected, the vaccine causes your child’s body to produce disease-fighting substances (antibodies) against these infections. If your child later comes into contact with these viruses, their body is ready to fight them off.
Good to know: It may take up to 4-6 weeks for maximum protection to develop after vaccination.
How ProQuad Is Given
ProQuad is given as a single injection by a doctor or trained nurse. It’s injected just under the skin or into the muscle of the upper arm or upper thigh.
Administration Details
The entire contents of the vial are given as one injection. For children with blood-clotting disorders, the vaccine is given under the skin to prevent bleeding. The vaccine should never be injected directly into veins.
Age and Timing
ProQuad is given to children aged 12 months through 12 years. Your doctor will determine the appropriate timing. If a second dose of a varicella-containing vaccine is needed, there should be at least 1 month between doses.
Important: Keep a record of your child’s vaccinations and update it after each injection.
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Pain, tenderness or soreness at injection site
- Local reaction around injection site (soreness, redness, swelling, bruising)
- Fever
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Rash (including measles or varicella-like rash)
- Irritability
- Upper respiratory tract infection
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Seizure or convulsion (with or without high fever)
- Headache and fever progressing to hallucinations, confusion, stiff neck
- Pain, numbness, or tingling in hands, arms, legs or feet
- Fainting
- Severe blisters with bleeding in lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals
- Unsteadiness walking
- Allergic reactions (cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, swelling of face/lips/throat, hives, skin rash)
Important Warnings
ProQuad should not be given to certain children and requires careful consideration in others with specific medical conditions.
Who Should Not Receive ProQuad
Do not give ProQuad if your child: is allergic to ProQuad, gelatin, or neomycin antibiotic; has fever or active untreated tuberculosis; is taking immune-suppressing medicines (like corticosteroids or cancer medicines); has immune system diseases (like leukemia, lymphoma, HIV/AIDS); has a family history of immune deficiency; or is pregnant.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if your child has: history of febrile convulsions, brain damage, epilepsy, low blood platelet count, seizures; serious egg allergy; recent blood transfusions or immune globulin treatment; upcoming tuberculin test; blood-clotting disorders; or any allergies to medicines or vaccines.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Pregnancy should be avoided for 3 months following vaccination. The vaccine should not be given if the recipient is breastfeeding or intends to breastfeed.
Post-vaccination precautions: For 6 weeks after vaccination, avoid contact with people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women who never had chickenpox, and newborn babies whose mothers never had chickenpox.
Drug Interactions
Several medicines can interfere with ProQuad or should be avoided after vaccination.
Aspirin warning: Do not give aspirin or salicylate medicines for 6 weeks after ProQuad due to risk of Reye Syndrome.
- Immune-suppressing medicines (corticosteroids, cyclosporine, cancer medicines)
- Aspirin or other salicylate medicines
- Immune globulins
Special Precautions
There are important precautions to follow after your child receives ProQuad vaccination.
Medicine Restrictions
Do not give aspirin or other salicylate medicines to your child for 6 weeks after vaccination due to risk of Reye Syndrome.
Contact Precautions
For 6 weeks after vaccination, keep your child away from people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women who never had chickenpox, and newborn babies whose mothers never had chickenpox, as they may catch chickenpox from your child.
Storage
You’re unlikely to need to store ProQuad, but if required: keep it in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (not in the door compartment), do not freeze, protect from light by keeping in original packaging, and keep away from children. The vaccine is stable for up to 18 months when properly refrigerated.
Emergency Information
ProQuad is given as a single measured dose by healthcare professionals, so overdose is unlikely. However, if your child experiences serious allergic reactions (difficulty breathing, swelling of face/throat, severe rash), seek immediate emergency medical attention. Most serious reactions occur within 15-30 minutes of vaccination.
Frequently Asked Questions
It may take up to 4-6 weeks for maximum protection to develop after vaccination. During this time, infections may occasionally occur.
Yes, ProQuad can be given at the same time as haemophilus b conjugate, hepatitis B, pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate, and hepatitis A vaccines, but at different injection sites. At least one month should elapse between ProQuad and other vaccines.
Fever is a common side effect that usually improves within a few days. However, do not give aspirin or salicylate medicines for 6 weeks after vaccination. Speak to your doctor if you’re concerned.
No vaccine provides 100% protection against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox, but ProQuad provides strong protection for most children who receive it.
Your child may be able to spread chickenpox to vulnerable people (those with weak immune systems, pregnant women who never had chickenpox, newborns whose mothers never had chickenpox) for 6 weeks after vaccination.
ProQuad should not be given if your child has an infection with fever. Wait until your child is well before vaccination.
Seek emergency care if your child has difficulty breathing, swelling of face/lips/throat, severe rash, seizures, or signs of serious allergic reaction. Most serious reactions occur within 15-30 minutes of vaccination.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.