U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention 

VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Your Child’s First Vaccines:

What You Need to Know

Many vaccine information statements are 

available in Spanish and other languages. 

See www.immunize.org/vis

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están 

disponibles en español y en muchos otros 

idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

The vaccines included on this statement are likely to be given at the same time during infancy 

and early childhood. There are separate Vaccine Information Statements for other vaccines 

that are also routinely recommended for young children (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, 

rotavirus, influenza, and hepatitis A)

Your child is getting these vaccines today:

 DTaP  Hib  Hepatitis B  PCV  Polio

(Provider: Check appropriate boxes.)

1. Why get vaccinated?

Vaccines can prevent disease. Childhood vaccination 

is essential because it helps provide immunity before 

children are exposed to potentially life-threatening 

diseases.

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP)

 Diphtheria (D) can lead to difficulty breathing, 

heart failure, paralysis, or death.

 Tetanus (T) causes painful stiffening of the 

muscles. Tetanus can lead to serious health 

problems, including being unable to open the 

mouth, having trouble swallowing and breathing, 

or death.

 Pertussis (aP), also known as “whooping cough,” 

can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that 

makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink. Pertussis 

can be extremely serious, especially in babies and 

young children, causing pneumonia, convulsions, 

brain damage, or death.

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) 

disease

Haemophilus influenzae type b can cause many 

different kinds of infections. Hib bacteria can cause 

mild illness, such as ear infections or bronchitis, or 

they can cause severe illness, such as infections of 

the blood. Hib infection can also cause pneumonia; 

severe swelling in the throat, making it hard to 

breathe; and infections of the blood, joints, bones, 

and covering of the heart. Severe Hib infection, also 

called “invasive Hib disease,” requires treatment in a 

hospital and can sometimes result in death.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a liver disease that can cause mild 

illness lasting a few weeks, or it can lead to a serious, 

lifelong illness. Acute hepatitis B infection is a shortterm illness that can lead to fever, fatigue, loss of 

appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin or 

eyes, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements), 

and pain in the muscles, joints, and stomach. 

Chronic hepatitis B infection is a long-term illness 

that occurs when the hepatitis B virus remains in a 

person’s body. Most people who go on to develop 

chronic hepatitis B do not have symptoms, but it 

is still very serious and can lead to liver damage 

(cirrhosis), liver cancer, and death.

Pneumococcal disease (PCV)

Pneumococcal disease refers to any illness caused 

by pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria can cause 

many types of illnesses, including pneumonia, which 

is an infection of the lungs. Besides pneumonia, 

pneumococcal bacteria can also cause ear infections, 

sinus infections, meningitis (infection of the tissue 

covering the brain and spinal cord), and bacteremia 

(infection of the blood). Most pneumococcal 

infections are mild. However, some can result 

in long-term problems, such as brain damage or 

hearing loss. Meningitis, bacteremia, and pneumonia 

caused by pneumococcal disease can be fatal.
Polio

Polio (or poliomyelitis) is a disabling and lifethreatening disease caused by poliovirus, which 

can infect a person’s spinal cord, leading to paralysis. 

Most people infected with poliovirus have no 

symptoms, and many recover without complications. 

Some people infected with poliovirus will experience 

sore throat, fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, 

or stomach pain, and most people with these 

symptoms will also recover without complications. 

A smaller group of people will develop more serious 

symptoms: paresthesia (feeling of pins and needles 

in the legs), meningitis (infection of the covering 

of the spinal cord and/or brain), or paralysis (can’t 

move parts of the body) or weakness in the arms, 

legs, or both. Paralysis can lead to permanent 

disability and death.

2. DTaP, Hib, hepatitis B, 

pneumococcal conjugate, and 

polio vaccines

Infants and children usually need:

 5 doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular 

pertussis vaccine (DTaP)

 3 or 4 doses of Hib vaccine

 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine

 4 doses of pneumococcal conjugate 

vaccine (PCV)

 4 doses of polio vaccine

Some children might need fewer or more than the 

usual number of doses of some vaccines to have the 

best protection because of their age at vaccination or 

other circumstances.

Older children, adolescents, and adults with 

certain health conditions or other risk factors or 

who did not get vaccinated earlier might also be 

recommended to receive 1 or more doses of some 

of these vaccines.

These vaccines are given as either stand-alone 

vaccines or as part of a combination vaccine (a type 

of vaccine that combines more than one vaccine 

together into one shot).

3. Talk with your health care 

provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the child getting 

the vaccine:

For all of these vaccines:

 Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose 

of the vaccine, or has any severe, life-threatening 

allergies

For DTaP:

 Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose 

of any vaccine that protects against diphtheria, 

tetanus, or pertussis

 Has had a coma, decreased level of consciousness, 

or prolonged seizures within 7 days after a 

previous dose of any pertussis vaccine (DTP 

or DTaP)

 Has seizures or another nervous system problem

 Has ever had Guillain-Barré syndrome (also 

called “GBS”)

 Has had severe pain or swelling after a previous 

dose of any vaccine that protects against 

diphtheria or tetanus

For PCV:

 Has had an allergic reaction after a previous 

dose of any type of pneumococcal conjugate 

vaccine (PCV13, PCV15, PCV20, or an earlier 

pneumococcal conjugate vaccine known as 

PCV7), or to any vaccine containing diphtheria 

toxoid (for example, DTaP)

In some cases, your child’s health care provider may 

decide to postpone vaccination until a future visit.

Children with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be 

vaccinated. Children who are moderately or severely 

ill should usually wait until they recover before being 

vaccinated.

Your child’s health care provider can give you more 

information.

Vaccine Information Statement (Interim) | Multi Pediatric Vaccines | Page 2 | 7/24/2023
OFFICE 

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4. Risks of a vaccine reaction

For all of these vaccines:

 Soreness, redness, swelling, warmth, pain, or 

tenderness where the shot is given can happen 

after vaccination.

For DTaP vaccine, Hib vaccine, 

hepatitis B vaccine, and PCV:

 Fever can happen after vaccination.

For DTaP vaccine:

 Fussiness, feeling tired, loss of appetite, and 

vomiting sometimes happen after DTaP 

vaccination.

 More serious reactions, such as seizures, non-stop 

crying for 3 hours or more, or high fever (over 

105°F) after DTaP vaccination happen much less 

often. Rarely, vaccination is followed by swelling of 

the entire arm or leg, especially in older children 

when they receive their fourth or fifth dose.

For PCV:

 Loss of appetite, fussiness (irritability), feeling 

tired, headache, and chills can happen after PCV 

vaccination.

 Young children may be at increased risk for 

seizures caused by fever after a pneumococcal 

conjugate vaccine if it is administered at the same 

time as inactivated influenza vaccine. Ask your 

health care provider for more information.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance 

of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other 

serious injury, or death.

5. What if there is a serious 

problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated 

person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a 

severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face 

and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, 

dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person 

to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health 

care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine 

Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your 

health care provider will usually file this report, or 

you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS 

is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff 

members do not give medical advice.

6. The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines. Claims regarding alleged injury or 

death due to vaccination have a time limit for filing, 

which may be as short as two years. Visit the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation or 

call 1-800-338-2382 to learn about the program and 

about filing a claim.

7. How can I learn more?

 Ask your health care provider.

 Call your local or state health department.

 Visit the website of the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for vaccine package inserts 

and additional information at www.fda.gov/

vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines.

 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

-Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

-Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Vaccine Information Statement (Interim)

Multi Pediatric Vaccines

42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

7/24/2023