DTP vaccine,adsorbed,vial of 10 doses

General Description:
DTP vaccine, adsorbed, vial of 10 doses

The vaccine contains purified diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and inactivated whooping cough organisms/Bordetella pertussis, (depending on the manufacturer). The toxoids are adsorbed onto aluminum phosphate. Thimerosal or Merthiolate (depending on the manufacturer) is used as a preservative (0.01% w/v or 0.05mg or 0.1mg per dose, depending on the manufacturer). The potency of the vaccine per single human dose is at least 4IU for pertussis, 30IU for diphtheria and for tetanus 60IU (determined in mice) or 40IU (determined in guinea pig).

For information on product specifications, refer to the WHO website on Prequalified Vaccines.
https://www.who.int/immunization_standards /vaccine_quality/PQ_vaccine_list_en/en/

Administration:
The vaccine vial should be shaken to homogenize the suspension.
The vaccine should be injected intramuscularly or deep subcutaneously. The anterolateral aspect of the upper thigh is the preferred site of injection. (An injection into a child's buttocks may cause injury to the sciatic nerve and is not recommended.) It must not be injected into the skin as this may give rise to local reaction. One dose is 0.5 ml.

A sterile needle and sterile syringe should be used for each injection.

Once opened, multi-dose vials should be kept between +2°C and +8°C.
Multi-dose vials of DTP, from which one or more doses of vaccine have been removed during an immunization session, may be used in subsequent immunization sessions for up to a maximum of 4 weeks, provided that all of the following conditions are met (as described in the WHO policy statement: The use of opened multi dose vials in subsequent immunization sessions. WHO/V&B/00.09):

The expiry date has not passed;
The vaccines are stored under appropriate cold chain conditions;
The vaccine vial septum has not been submerged in water;
Aseptic technique has been used to withdraw all doses;
The vaccine vial monitor (VVM), if attached, has not reached the discard point.

Immunization Schedule:
In countries where pertussis is of particular danger to young infants, DTP immunization should be started as soon as possible with the first dose given as early as 6 weeks, and two subsequent doses given at 4-week intervals.

DTP vaccine can be given safely and effectively at the same time as
BCG, measles and polio vaccines (OPV and IPV), hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type b, yellow fever vaccine and vitamin A supplementation.
WHO recommends that, where resources permit, an additional dose of DTP be given approximately one year after completion of the primary doses. However, the need for additional booster doses of DTP, DT or Td should be addressed by individual national immunization programmes.

DTP vaccine can be given safely at the same time as other EPI vaccine according to national immunization schedules.

Transport and Storage:
DTP vaccine should be stored and transported between +2°C and +8°C.
The vaccine must not be frozen.