Immunizations What to Know About the ProQuad Combination Vaccine By Vincent Iannelli, MD facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Vincent Iannelli, MD Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician Updated on February 03, 2020 Print Image Source / Getty Images Proquad is indicated for use in children 12 months to 12 years of age who need to be vaccinated against the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella viruses. This used to mean getting two separate shots, the MMR and Varivax (chickenpox) vaccines, which according to the latest immunization schedule, most kids get when they are about 12 to 15 months old, with boosters at age 4 years. Like the separate MMR and Varivax vaccines, ProQuad is an attenuated live virus vaccine. Other facts about ProQuad include: ProQuad is made by MerckYou must wait at least 1 month between getting a regular MMR vaccine and ProQuadProQuad may be given at the same time as the Hib and HepB vaccinesProQuad may be used as the first dose of MMR and VarivaxProQuad may be used as the second dose of MMR if the child also needs a chicken pox shot With the combination vaccines ProQuad and Kinrix (IPV plus DTaP), most preschoolers can now get away with just two shots (still getting four vaccines) before they start kindergarten. Warnings and Side Effects ProQuad should not be given to certain children, including children: who have had anaphylactic reactions to neomycin or a hypersensitivity to gelatin or other components of ProQuadwith malignant neoplasms, such as leukemia and lymphomaon immunosuppressive therapywho have immunodeficiencieswho have a family history of congenital or hereditary immunodeficiency, until testing is completed Children should also not get ProQuad if they: have active untreated tuberculosishave an active febrile illness and the fever is above 101.3 degreesare pregnant Your pediatrician will likely also be cautious before giving ProQuad to your child if he has a history of cerebral injury, seizures, a family history of seizures, egg allergy, contact dermatitis from neomycin, thrombocytopenia, or if he is supposed to avoid the stress from a fever. The safety profile of ProQuad is similar to that of the separate MMR and Varivax vaccines. Children were more likely to have a fever, a rash at the injection site, and a measles-like rash after getting ProQuad, but were less likely to have pain, tenderness, and soreness at the injection site, than if they got separate MMR and Varivax shots. Post-marketing studies have found an increased rate of fever and febrile seizures in kids getting ProQuad vs. those getting separate MMR and Varivax shots. The most common side effects of ProQuad include injection site reactions: pain/tenderness/sorenesserythema (redness)swellingecchymosis (bruising)rash and systemic reactions: fever greater or equal to 102 degreesirritabilitymeasles-like rashchicken pox like rashrashupper respiratory infectionviral exanthemadiarrhea What You Need to Know Other things to know about ProQuad include that: Unlike other combination vaccines, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) does not recommend ProQuad vs. the separate MMR and chickenpox vaccines for the first dose of the vaccines in young children. Because of the increased risk of fever and febrile seizures, unless a parent prefers ProQuad, they do not "express a preference for use of MMRV vaccine over separate injections of equivalent component vaccines".ProQuad is still preferred for the second dose of measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines and for kids over 47 months getting their first doses. Whichever vaccines you choose, ProQuad for separate MMR and chicken pox vaccines, get educated and get your kids vaccinated and protected. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. CDC. Use of Combination Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella Vaccine. MMWR. May 7, 2010 / 59(RR03);1-12. MMWR, March 14, 2008, Vol 57, #10. Update: Recommendations from the ACIP Regarding Administration of Combination MMRV Vaccine. Klein NP, et al. Measles-containing vaccines and febrile seizures in children age 4 to 6 years. Pediatrics. 2012 May;129(5):809 -814. ProQuad Product Label. August 2005.