Side Effects Not Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Some side effects of measles virus vaccine / mumps virus vaccine / rubella virus vaccine / varicella virus vaccine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
Incidence not known
- irritation and swelling of the eyelids
- lack of feeling or emotion
- muscle or bone pain
- pain and swelling in the scrotum
- pain in the hip, leg, or neck
- pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
- passing gas
- red rash with watery, yellow-colored, or pus filled blisters
- thick yellow to honey-colored crusts
- uncaring
How Do Live Viral Vaccines Work
Live viralvaccines are biological products that provide immunity against certain viral infections. Live viral vaccines stimulate the bodys immune system to produce antibodies against specific types of viruses and protect a person from diseases caused by these viruses.
Live viral vaccines are weakened forms of disease-causing viruses. Live viral vaccines produce a strong and often life-long immunity similar to that acquired from a natural infection, but without subjecting the person to the disease and its complications, because they only contain a small amount of the weakened viruses.
Live viral vaccines are derived by weakening the disease-causing viruses in laboratories, usually with repeated culturing. Live viral vaccines must be stored and handled with care because they are fragile and can be damaged by heat and light.
Live viral vaccines may not be safe for individuals with compromised immunity. People with weakened immune systems should consult with their health care providers before receiving live viral vaccines, because they may cause severe infections that their weakened immune systems may not be able to control.
Live viral vaccines approved by the FDA provide immunity against the following viral diseases:
Proquad Vaccine Clinical Trials
Proquad vaccine has been involved in over 35 clinical trials.
In 4 randomized trials in which 5,446 healthy children aged 12 to 23 months received PROQUAD, vaccine response rates for PROQUAD were similar to those induced by the concomitant administration of single doses of M-M-R II and VARIVAX at separate injection sites in 2,038 children. Results showed that following a single dose of PROQUAD, the immune response rates were 97.4 percent for measles, 95.8 to 98.8 percent for mumps, 98.5 percent for rubella, and 91.2 percent for chickenpox. The duration of protection from measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox infections after vaccination with PROQUAD is unknown.
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What Are Possible Side Effects
Like all medicines, ProQuad can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The most common side effects reported with the use of ProQuad were: injection site complaints including pain/tenderness/soreness, redness, swelling or bruising fever irritability rash upper respiratory infection vomiting and diarrhoea.
Other less common side effects have been reported following administration of ProQuad and some of these were serious. These included: allergic reactions seizures with a fever cough and bronchiolitis and unsteadiness with walking.
Other side effects have been reported with the use of either measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc., the monovalent components of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine produced by Merck & Co., Inc., or Varicella Vaccine live : unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin, swelling of the testicles tingling of the skin, herpes zoster inflammation of the brain severe skin disorders skin infection stroke seizures without a fever joint pain and/or swelling and inflammation of the lung .
The doctor has a more complete list of side effects for ProQuad and for the vaccine components for ProQuad ).
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist. If the condition persists or worsens, seek medical attention.
Nature And Contents Of Container

ProQuad is supplied as: a single-dose vial of lyophilised vaccine and a single-dose vial or needleless syringe of diluent supplied in a separate carton a box of five single-dose vials of lyophilised vaccine and a box of five single-dose vials or five needleless syringes of diluent supplied in a separate carton a box of ten single-dose vials of lyophilised vaccine and a box of ten single-dose vials or ten needleless syringes of diluent supplied in a separate carton a single-dose vial of lyophilised vaccine with a single-dose vial or syringe of diluent in one carton five single-dose vials of lyophilised vaccine with five single-dose vials or syringes of diluent in one carton ten single-dose vials of lyophilised vaccine and ten single-dose vials or syringes of diluent in one carton a box of ten single-dose vials of lyophilised vaccine.The frozen formulation of this product is not available.Not all presentations and pack sizes may be supplied.
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What Other Drugs Could Interact With This Medication
There may be an interaction between this medication and any of the following:
- acetaminophen
- tuberculin skin tests
- vaccines
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter , and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 2022. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/ProQuad
How Can Parents Pay For Chickenpox Vaccine
Most health insurance plans cover the cost of vaccines. However, you may want to check with your insurance provider before going to the doctor. If you dont have health insurance or if your insurance does not cover vaccines for your child, the Vaccines for Children Program may be able to help. This program helps families of eligible children who might not otherwise have access to vaccines. To find out if your child is eligible, visit the VFC website or ask your childs doctor. You can also contact your state VFC coordinator.
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How To Use Proquad Vial
Read all vaccine information available from your health care professional before receiving the vaccine. If you have any questions, ask your health care professional.
This vaccine is given by injection by a health care professional. Depending on the brand of vaccine your child receives, it will be given either under the skin or into the muscle of the upper arm.
Vaccines are usually given in a series of doses to provide the best protection. Closely follow the vaccination schedule provided by the health care professional. Keep all scheduled medical appointments. It may be helpful to mark a calendar as a reminder.
This combination of vaccines may be given at the same time as other childhood vaccines using a separate needle and injection site.
There are various combinations of vaccines available. Based on your child’s age, vaccination history, and previous reaction to vaccines, the health care professional will decide which vaccines are best for your child. Discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with the health care professional.
Interactions With Other Medicines And Other Forms Of Interactions
Administration of immune globulins concomitantly with ProQuad may interfere with the expected immune response. Vaccination should be deferred for at least 3 months following blood or plasma transfusions, or administration of IG. However, the appropriate suggested interval between transfusion or IG administration and vaccination will vary with the type of transfusion or indication for, and dose of, IG .Following administration of ProQuad, any IG including VZIG should not be given for 1 month thereafter unless its use outweighs the benefits of vaccination.Vaccine recipients should avoid use of salicylates for 6 weeks after vaccination with ProQuad as Reye syndrome has been reported following the use of salicylates during wild-type varicella infection.
Concomitant use with other vaccines.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Proquad
Get emergency medical help if your child has signs of an allergic reaction or a severe skin reaction .
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. If the child ever needs to receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.
Becoming infected with measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella is much more dangerous to your child’s health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
- a high fever
- nervous system problems–numbness, pain, tingling, weakness, burning or prickly feeling, vision or hearing problems, trouble breathing.
Common side effects may include:
- redness, pain, or swelling where the shot was given
- fever
- rash or
- feeling irritable .
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.
Patient Assistance Programs For Proquad
Patient assistance programs are usually sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and provide free ordiscounted medicines to low income or uninsured and under-insured people who meet specific guidelines.Eligibility requirements vary for each program.
There are currently no Patient Assistance Programs that we know about for this drug.
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Proquad Vaccine News For 2005
– The U.S. CDC published the Top 10 Countries with Global Measles Outbreaks in 2021.
– The CDC published: Notes from the Field: Congenital Varicella Syndrome Case Illinois, 2021. This case reaffirms current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations for preventing varicella that all adults be assessed for varicella immunity and that those who do not have evidence of immunity should receive 2 doses of varicella vaccine, with special emphasis for adult groups at high risk, including nonpregnant women of childbearing age.
– The U.S. CDC’s MMWR confirmed 173 of 194 countries had introduced RCVs by 2020, and 93 had been verified as having eliminated rubella transmission.
– The Lancet published an article that stated: Disrupted vaccination activities during the pandemic increase the potential for another resurgence of measles in the near future.
January 3, 2022 – The CDC confirmed a total of 49 measles cases were reported by 5 jurisdictions in the U.S. during 2021. This data compares with 2020, when13 individual cases of measles were confirmed in 8 jurisdictions.
– A total of 42 measles cases were reported by three jurisdictions this year. In 2020, the U.S. CDC confirmed 13 individual cases of measles were established in 8 jurisdictions.
– GSK reported financial results. MMRV vaccines sales were flat at AER but grew 6% CER to £54 million, largely driven by favorable phasing in International.
– The U.S. CDC reconfirmed various measles outbreaks in Africa.
How Does Proquad Work

ProQuad is a vaccine. Vaccines work by teaching the immune system how to defend itself against a disease. ProQuad contains weakened forms of the viruses that cause measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. When a person is given the vaccine, the immune system recognises the weakened viruses as foreign and makes defences against them. In the future, the immune system will be able to respond more quickly when it is exposed to the viruses again. This will help to protect against the diseases caused by these viruses.
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What Is It And How Is It Used
ProQuad is a vaccine containing measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella viruses that have been weakened. When a person is given the vaccine, the immune system will make antibodies against the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella viruses. The antibodies help protect against diseases caused by these viruses.
ProQuad is given to help protect your child against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella . The vaccine may be administered to persons from 12 months of age.
Although ProQuad contains live viruses, they are too weak to cause measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella in healthy people.
How Should It Be Stored
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Store and transport refrigerated .
Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Do not use ProQuad after the expiry date which is stated on the outer carton after EXP.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.
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Proquad Vaccine Side Effects
The following cautions have been reported for ProQuad: fever, injection-site reactions irritability and rash on the body or at the injection site. In addition, systemic vaccine-related adverse events reported at a significantly greater rate in recipients of ProQuad than in recipients of the component vaccines administered concomitantly were fever and measles-like rash.
Hypersensitivity: ProQuad is contraindicated in patients with a history of anaphylactic reaction or hypersensitivity to any vaccine component or an initial dose of measles mumps, rubella, or varicella-containing vaccine. Use caution when administering ProQuad to individuals with anaphylaxis or immediate hypersensitivity to eggs.
Acip Preference For 2nd Dose 1
- The ACIP generally prefers the combination vaccine MMRV for the 2nd dose at any age .1
- In a postmarketing observational study, no cases of febrile seizure were observed during the 5- to 12-day postvaccination period among children who received ProQuad as a 2nd dose.
- A personal or family history of seizures of any etiology is a precaution for vaccination with ProQuad.1
Reference
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What Is In This Leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about ProQuad. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines and vaccines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of your child being given ProQuad against the benefits they expect it will have for your child.
If you have any concerns about being given this vaccine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.
Before Your Child Is Given It
Tell your doctor if:
- brain damage
- seizures
The strains of measles and mumps viruses used to make ProQuad are grown in egg-derived cultures.
Your doctor may decide to delay the injection of ProQuad.
This should be given either before or at the same time as the injection of ProQuad.
The vaccine should not be given if the recipient is breast-feeding or intends to breast-feed.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before your child is given ProQuad.
In rare circumstances, it is possible to catch chickenpox, including severe chickenpox, from a person who has been vaccinated with ProQuad. This may occur in persons who have not previously been vaccinated against chickenpox or had chickenpox, as well as persons who fall into one of the following categories:
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Mmr And Mmrv Vaccine Composition And Dosage
Two vaccines containing measles, mumps, and rubella virus are licensed for use in the United States.
- M-M-R II® is a combination measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
- ProQuad® is a combination measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine.
Both vaccines contain live, attenuated measles, mumps, and rubella virus. MMRV also contains live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus.
The lyophilized live MMR vaccine and MMRV vaccine should be reconstituted and administered as recommended by the manufacturer1,2.
For package inserts, see M-M-R IIexternal icon, ProQuadexternal icon
Footnotes
What Are Side Effects Of Live Viral Vaccines

Side effects of live viral vaccines may include the following:
- Injection site reactions include:
Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.
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