Proquad (Measles, Mumps, Rubella And Varicella Virus Vaccine Live)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Quick Facts
What Is ProQuad Used For?
ProQuad is a vaccine that helps protect children from four serious childhood 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 (which causes swollen glands and can affect testicles in males), rubella (dangerous for pregnant women as it can cause birth defects), and chickenpox (which 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 vaccinated child later comes into contact with these viruses, their body is ready to fight them off. Maximum protection develops within 4-6 weeks.
Good to know: The chance of a severe reaction from ProQuad is very small, but the risks from not being vaccinated are very serious.
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How ProQuad Is Given
ProQuad is given as an injection by a doctor or trained nurse. You don’t need to do anything special to prepare your child for the vaccine.
Administration Details
The entire contents of the vial are injected just under the skin or into the muscle of the upper arm or upper thigh. For children with blood-clotting disorders, it’s given under the skin to prevent bleeding. The vaccine is given to children aged 12 months through 12 years, with timing and number of injections determined by your doctor.
Important: Keep a record of your child’s vaccinations and update it after each injection. Keep follow-up appointments with your doctor.
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, viral skin rash, injection site rash)
- Irritability
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Swelling of the epididymis (part of male reproductive system)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Seizure or convulsion (with or without high fever)
- Headache and fever progressing to hallucinations, confusion, stiff neck, sensitivity to light
- 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 reaction symptoms (cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, swelling of face/lips/throat, difficulty swallowing/breathing, hives, skin rash)
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Severe paleness
- Swelling of testicles
- Shingles
- Brain inflammation (encephalitis)
- Inflammation of brain/spinal cord coverings (meningitis)
- Severe skin disorders
- Chickenpox
- Stroke
- Joint pain and swelling
- Lung inflammation (pneumonia)
Important Warnings
ProQuad cannot be given to all children. There are important safety considerations your doctor will review before vaccination.
Who Should Not Receive ProQuad
Children who are allergic to ProQuad, gelatin, or the antibiotic neomycin; have fever or active untreated tuberculosis; are taking immune-suppressing medicines (like corticosteroids, cyclosporin, cancer medicines); have immune system diseases (blood disorders, leukemia, lymphoma, HIV/AIDS); have family history of immune deficiency; or are pregnant should not receive this vaccine.
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/plasma transfusions or immune globulins (within 3 months), upcoming tuberculin test, blood-clotting disorders, or allergies to medicines or other substances.
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.
Age Restriction: The safety and effectiveness of ProQuad in children below 12 months of age have not been established.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines can interfere with ProQuad and affect how it works. Always tell your healthcare provider about all medicines your child is taking.
Timing Important: At least one month should elapse between ProQuad and other vaccines. If giving with other vaccines, they should be at different injection sites.
- Medicines that decrease the immune system (corticosteroids like prednisone, cyclosporine, cancer medicines)
- Aspirin or other salicylate medicines
- Immune globulins
Special Precautions After Vaccination
There are important precautions to follow after your child receives ProQuad to ensure safety and prevent spreading infection to vulnerable people.
Contact Precautions
For 6 weeks after vaccination, avoid your child coming into contact with people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women who have never had chickenpox, and newborn babies whose mothers have never had chickenpox, as these people may be at risk of catching chickenpox from your child.
Medicine Restrictions
Do not give aspirin or other salicylate medicines to your child for 6 weeks after vaccination, as this can cause a serious condition called Reye Syndrome.
Storage
It’s unlikely you’ll need to store ProQuad, but if required: keep in refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (not in door compartment), do not freeze, protect from light by keeping in original pack, keep out of reach of 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 allergic reactions occur within 15-30 minutes of vaccination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maximum protection develops within 4-6 weeks after vaccination. During this time, infections may occasionally occur as the body is still building immunity.
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 about the fever.
No vaccine provides 100% protection. However, ProQuad provides very good protection against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. The chance of a severe reaction is very small, but the risks from not being vaccinated are very serious.
For 6 weeks after vaccination, your child should avoid contact with people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women who never had chickenpox, and newborn babies whose mothers never had chickenpox, as there’s a small risk they could catch chickenpox from your vaccinated child.
It’s not known whether ProQuad will prevent these diseases if given after exposure. Vaccination before exposure is the best way to protect against infection and serious complications.
Call immediately if your child has signs of serious allergic reaction (difficulty breathing, swelling of face/throat), seizures, severe headache with stiff neck, severe blisters, or any other serious side effects. Most allergic 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.