Revaxis is trivalent vaccine against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio

Revaxis is a trivalent vaccine against Diphtheria, Tetanus and polio. It is marketed by Sanofi.

This vaccine is given for protection against Diphtheria, Tetanus and polio diseases. 

This vaccine is a trivalent vaccine that protects against 3 diseases.

This vaccine contains:

Purified Diphtheria toxoidNot less than 2 IU
Purified Tetanus toxoidNot less than 20 IU
Inactivated poliomyelitis virus
Type 1
Type 2
Type 3


40 D
8 D
32 D
The adsorbent is Aluminium hydroxide0.35 mg as Aluminium
Each 0.5 ml of Revaxis contains

Other ingredients include Phenoxyethanol, ethanol anhydrous, formaldehyde, acetic acid (pH adjuster), sodium hydroxide (pH adjuster), Medium 199 (a mixture of amino acids including phenylalanine, mineral salts, vitamins, 6 polysorbate 80, hydrochloric acid (pH adjuster), sodium hydroxide (pH adjuster) and other substances) and water for injections. 

How is the Revaxis vaccine available?

Revaxis is available as a pre-filled syringe 0.5 ml dose each.

It is available as a single dose syringe packet or as 5 syringes packet.

The content of the vaccine may look cloudy in the prefilled syringe.

It is kept in a carton to protect it from sunlight.

At what age to get the Revaxis vaccine?

Revaxis vaccine protects against Diphtheria, Tetanus and polio.

This vaccine is given at age above 6 years of age to those who have got vaccines containing the same antigens previously.

This vaccine is mainly used for booster doses. This vaccine is not for use as a primary series.

How to give the Revaxis vaccine?

This vaccine is given by an intramuscular route.

It is given by injection on shoulder and deltoid muscle.

All the safety injection precautions should be followed while injecting this vaccine.

Disposable items used should be discarded as per local biomedical waste management protocols to protect your environment.

Dose of vaccine

For age more than 6 years the dose is 0.5 ml. The second dose is given after at least 1 month.

Further boosters may be given as needed.

Correct technique of Revaxis vaccine administration

Revaxis vaccine is needed to be administered intramuscularly.

Skin is cleaned with normal spirit solution at the injection site.

The dose vaccine is given using 23-24 no needles for intramuscular injection.

The needle is inserted intramuscular to the skin.

The vaccine is injected slowly while removing the needle from the injection site slowly.

How to store Revaxis vaccine?

Store Revaxis vaccine as per recommendations of supplier or manufacturer.

Store this vaccine at temperature 2-8 degree Celsius.

It shouldn’t be frozen.

Maintain the temperature range using a strict cold chain.

Maintain the cold chain all all stages from manufacturer to the end user.

If the temperature recommendations were not followed, discard the vaccine.

While discarding local biomedical waste management protocols should be followed to protect environmental damage.

How Does the Revaxis Vaccine work?

Revaxis is a Combination trivalent vaccine. It contains Diphtheria and Tetanus purified toxoids. It also contains inactivated Poliomyelitis virus type 1, type 2, and Type 3 strains.

When it is injected, the purified antigen in it enters you. It cannot cause you the disease.

Your immunity recognizes these antigens and develops an immune mechanism against it.

So when real infection occurs this developed immune system can fight back effectively.

Thus we can prevent Diphtheria, polio and Tetanus disease from occurring.

This vaccine cannot treat the diseases but it is used for prevention.

Safety of vaccine with other vaccines:

This vaccine is safe to give with other vaccines like MMR, Pneumococcal vaccines, and most of the other vaccines.

The vaccine should not be mixed with other drugs or vaccines in same syringe and should be given at the different sites of the body.

What are the side effects of the Revaxis vaccine?

With this vaccine following are common side effects. These all side effects though occur generally are mild and can be managed at home and do not usually need admission. They usually occur in the first 5 days after vaccination.

  • Pain, swelling, redness: Injection site pain, swelling and redness can occur within a few hours of giving this vaccine. It can be reduced with cold compression and medicine like paracetamol in adequate doses.
  • Fever: Fever may occur within a few hours of giving this vaccine. It can be managed with or without medicines as needed symptomatically.
  • Muscle pain: Limb pain muscle pain and fatigue are known side effects after vaccination. It usually subsides on its own. The intensity of side effects can be decreased with paracetamol.
  • Headache: Headache may occur after vaccination usually mild to moderate grade and subsides in some days. It can be managed with oral medication like paracetamol.
  • Anaphylaxis: Like all other vaccines and drugs this vaccine may cause anaphylaxis and severe allergic reactions. They are extremely rare to occur.
  • Malaise: Malaise and feeling of fatigue after vaccination can come and may subside in a few days.
  • Other rare side effects are loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting they usually subside by their own. They can be managed at home with oral medicines if needed, usually do not need admission to hospital.

To whom Revaxis Vaccine should not be given?

In following cases this vaccine should not be given:

  • Do not give this vaccine if the patient is known to be allergic to any of its components.
  • Do not give this vaccine if the patient had got an allergic or anaphylactic reaction at the time of the previous dose.
  • In pregnancy and breastfeeding mothers yet there is no sufficient data in this group. It is considered as safe in pregnancy.
  • This vaccine is yet not approved for use in less than 6 years old.

Warnings and caution with Revaxis Vaccine

  • This vaccine prevents diseases but does not treat them.
  • This vaccine may not protect all those who have received vaccination.
  • Need of additional doses and booster is needed as indicated.
  • Like any other vaccine, give this vaccine with readiness to manage anaphylaxis reaction.
  • This vaccine will not protect the individual if given in stages when the person is infected but yet not detectable by the tests.
  • This vaccine may not work if you are severely immunocompromised or on medication and treatment that cause immunocompromised state like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
  • This vaccine may not work if the patient has stage 3 or stage 4 HIV AIDS disease. 


<span class="has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color">Dr Yatin Bhole MBBS DCh DNB</span>
Dr Yatin Bhole MBBS DCh DNB

This article was written by Dr Yatin Bhole who is practicing Pediatrician at Bhole Children Clinic, Ravet. This post is for general information and before applying it on yourself, you should meet your doctor or meet us in person.



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