The essentials
- Usual timing
- 2, 4, 6 and 18 months
- How to get it
- Ask a primary care provider or public health unit about local appointments and funding.
One injection protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio and Hib. These infections can cause breathing problems, paralysis or serious infections of the blood or brain. Hib is a bacterium; it is not the seasonal flu.
School status
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio are among the diseases Ontario law requires school-age children to be immunized against. Hib is not, but the same injection protects against all five.
Side effects & precautions
Soreness, redness or swelling where the needle went in, fever, fussiness or a reduced appetite can happen. These reactions usually settle within a few days. Side-effect guidance
Tell the vaccinator about a severe reaction to an earlier dose, a serious allergy or a neurological condition. A severe allergic reaction is rare.
Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the tongue or throat. Not sure whether a reaction is expected? Contact a healthcare provider or call 811 for advice. Seek care promptly if symptoms are worrying or getting worse.
A baby under 3 months with a fever needs urgent assessment. Do not assume the fever is from vaccination.
Useful to know
Why several doses?
The first three doses build protection. The 18-month dose reinforces it. Later boosters use different combinations appropriate for the child’s age.
What is in it?
The 5-in-1 vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib) contains no live germs. It uses inactivated polio virus and selected components that teach the immune system to recognize the other infections. Vaccine components
Ingredients & more detail
Check the exact product
Ask the clinic for the product name. Its official Canadian product information (product monograph) lists ingredients, packaging, side effects and precautions. This page is a short overview, not a complete safety list.
Your next step
Bring the immunization record and a list of questions to the visit. Ask which doses count, what comes next and how to report new doses to public health.
Sources and references (7)
- Ontario — routine immunization schedule
- Canadian Immunization Guide — pertussis vaccines
- Canadian Immunization Guide — vaccine ingredients
- Canadian Paediatric Society — fever and temperature taking
- Health Canada — Drug Product Database and product monographs
- Canadian Immunization Guide — Hib vaccines
- Canadian Immunization Guide — polio vaccines
Program details can change. How this guide is reviewed