The tetravalent vaccine, also known as tetra viral vaccine, is a vaccine that protects the body against 4 diseases caused by viruses: measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox, which are highly contagious diseases.
This vaccine is available in basic health units for children between 15 months and 4 years old and in private clinics for children between 12 months and 12 years old.
What it is for and when it is indicated
The tetravalent vaccine is indicated with the objective of protecting against infection by viruses responsible for highly contagious diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox.
This vaccine should be applied by the nurse or doctor, to the tissue under the skin of the arm or thigh, with a syringe containing a 0.5 ml dose. It should be applied between 15 months and 4 years of age, as a booster, after the first dose of the triple viral, which must be done at 12 months of age.
If the first dose of the triple viral has been made late, the interval of 30 days must be respected to apply the viral tetra. Find out more about when and how to get the MMR vaccine.
Possible side effects
Some of the side effects of the Viral Tetravalent Vaccine may include low fever and pain, redness, itching and tenderness at the injection site. In addition, in more rare cases, there may be a more intense reaction in the body, causing fever, spots, itching and pain in the body.
The vaccine has traces of egg protein in its composition, however there have been no reports of side effects in people who have this type of allergy and have received the vaccine.
When not to take
This vaccine should not be given to children who are allergic to neomycin or another component of its formula, who have received a blood transfusion in the past 3 months or who have a disease that impairs immunity, such as HIV or cancer. It should also be postponed in children who have an acute infection with a high fever, however, it should not be missed in cases of mild infections, such as colds.
In addition, the vaccine is not recommended if the person is undergoing treatment that reduces the functioning of the immune system and neither for pregnant women.
