Priorix-Tetra™ (GSK, Belgium)
(Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine)

Vaccine Type: live attentuated vaccine for all 4 viruses
Composition:

• live attenuated measles virus (Schwarz strain)*
• live attenuated mumps virus (RIT 4385 strain)*
• live attenuated rubella virus (Wistar RA 27/3 strain) produced in human diploid (MRC-5) cells
• live attenuated varicella virus (OKA strain)*

* produced in chick embryo cells

Dosage:

• 0.5ml per dose: subcutaneous inj preferably outer aspect of upper arm
• see Singapore’s childhood immunisation schedule
• preferably at least 6-week interval between doses: must not be < 4 weeks
• indicated for active immunisation from 12 months to 12 years

Contraindicated in:

• hypersensitivity to neomycin
• impaired immune systems eg. primary/secondary immunodeficiency
• pregnant females
• anaphylactoid/acute reaction to egg: at higher risk of similar reaction but not common; vaccinate with extreme caution
• history of febrile convulsions: follow-up closely 4-12 days for vaccine-related fever
• acute febrile illness: postpone
• transmission of varicella vaccine virus rarely possible; MMR transmission never documented
• vaccinate asymptomatic HIV patients with caution, at physician’s discretion

Pregnancy: contraindicated
and avoid getting pregnant for three months after vaccination. There is inadequate data on use during lactation.

Drug interactions:

• tuberculin testing: to be carried out before or simultaneously with vaccination (as MMR may cause temporary depression in tuberculin skin sensitivity), otherwise withhold for up to 6 weeks to avoid false negative results
• gammaglobulins, blood transfusion: delay for at least 3 months due to passively acquired antibodies causing vaccine failure
• salicylates: avoid for 6 weeks after vaccination as Reye’s syndrome may occur when salicylates are used following natural varicella infection

 

Ref:

1. Package insert, International Data Sheet version 1 SI (14/02/2007)