About the 4-in-1 vaccine your child will be offered

The 4-in-1 vaccine helps protect your child against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and polio.

The following vaccines are routinely used in Scotland:

The 4-in-1 vaccine, also known as the DTaP/IPV or dTaP/IPV combined vaccine or the booster, is given as an injection.

What’s the difference between dTaP/IPV and DTaP/IPV, and does the difference matter?

Diphtheria vaccines are produced in 2 strengths, depending on how much diphtheria toxoid (the toxin produced by the diphtheria bacteria that’s been inactivated) they contain. The 2 strengths are shortened to ‘D’ for the high strength and ‘d’ for the low strength.

There are 2 vaccines available for use as the booster – one containing high-strength diphtheria (DTaP/IPV) and the other containing low-strength diphtheria (dTaP/IPV). Both vaccines have been shown to provide good responses, so it doesn’t matter which one your child has for their booster.

How do we know the vaccine is safe?

All medicines (including vaccines) are tested for safety and efficacy (how well a vaccine prevents illness during testing) before they’re allowed to be used. Once they’re in use, the safety and effectiveness (how well a vaccine prevents illness once it’s being used within a population) of vaccines continues to be carefully monitored.

The vaccine has been given to millions of people worldwide.