ProQuad

ProQuad is a vaccine that helps prevent measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chicken pox) in children 12 months through 12 years of age.

ProQuad is a vaccine that is given as a shot just under the skin (subcutaneous) of the upper arm or thigh. 

Common side effects of ProQuad include pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling at the site of injection. 

ProQuad is a vaccine that prevents measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chicken pox) in children 12 months through 12 years of age.

ProQuad is a vaccine that is given as a shot just under the skin (subcutaneous) of the upper arm or thigh. The first dose is usually administered at 12 to 15 months of age but may be given anytime through 12 years of age.

If a second dose of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine is needed, ProQuad may be used. This dose is usually administered at 4 to 6 years of age. At least 1 month should elapse between a dose of a measles-containing vaccine such as M-M-R II (measles, mumps, and rubella virus vaccine live) and a dose of ProQuad. At least 3 months should elapse between a dose of varicella-containing vaccine and ProQuad.

Caution should be used when administering ProQuad to:

• children with a history of cerebral injury or seizures or any other condition in which stress due to fever should be avoided
• children with allergies to eggs or neomycin
• children with thrombocytopenia (low amount of platelets in the blood which increases the risk of bleeding)
• children 12 to 23 months old who have not been previously vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella (chicken pox), nor had the infections since they have higher rates of fever and fever realted seizures at 5 to 12 days after vaccination when compared to children vaccinated with M-M-R II and Varivax administered separately

Avoid the following after receiving ProQuad:

• Vaccination should be delayed for at least 3 months following blood or plasma transfusions, or administration of immune globulins.
• Avoid using salicylates for 6 weeks after vaccination with ProQuad.
• Avoid pregnancy for 3 months following vaccination with measles, mumps, rubella, and/or varicella vaccines.
• At least 1 month should elapse between a dose of a measles-containing vaccine such as M-M-R II and a dose of ProQuad, and at least 3 months should elapse between administration of 2 doses of ProQuad or varicella-containing vaccines

Do not take ProQuad if you:

• have a history of anaphylactic (allergic) reaction to neomycin or hypersensitivity to gelatin or any other component of the vaccine
• have a weakened immune system (immunodeficiency)
• have a family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency
• you are taking drugs that weaken the immune system
• have active untreated tuberculosis or fever greater than 101.3°F
• you are pregnanct

Common side effects of ProQuad include:

• pain, tenderness, redness, and swelling at the site of injection
• fever
• irritability
• measels-like rash

​This is not a complete list of ProQuad side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take/receive:

• immune globulins and transfusions (defer vaccination for atleast 3 months following blood or plasma transfusions, or administration of IG)
• salicylates (avoid for 6 weeks after vaccination)
• corticosteroids and immunosuppresive drugs 

This is not a complete list of ProQuad drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. 

Tuberculin testing should be administered anytime before, simultaneously with, or at least 4 to 6 weeks after ProQuad.

At least 1 month should elapse between a dose of a measles-containing vaccine such as M-M-R II and a dose of ProQuad, and at least 3 months should elapse between administration of 2 doses of ProQuad or varicella-containing vaccines

ProQuad may be given at the same time as:

• Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine and/or hepatitis B vaccine at separate injection sites
• pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine and/or hepatitis A vaccine (inactivated) at separate injection sites

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Do not receive ProQuad if you are pregnant; the possible effects of the vaccine on development of the unborn baby are unknown at this time. Avoid pregnancy for 3 months following vaccination with measles, mumps, rubella, and/or varicella vaccines.

Tell your doctor is you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

It is not known if ProQuad crosses into human milk. Because some vaccines can cross into human milk and becuase of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this vaccine, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this vaccine. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using ProQuad.