Details for: TWINRIX JUNIOR
Company: GLAXOSMITHKLINE INC
| DIN | DIN name | Active Ingredient(s) | Strength | Dosage Form | Route of Administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02237548 | TWINRIX JUNIOR | HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN (RECOMBINANT); HEPATITIS A VACCINE, INACTIVATED | 10 MCG / 0.5 ML; 360 UNIT / 0.5 ML | SUSPENSION | INTRAMUSCULAR |
Consumer Information
This information was provided by the drug’s manufacturer when this drug product was approved for sale in Canada. It is designed for consumers and care givers. It is a summary of information about the drug and will not tell you everything about the drug. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about the drug.
What the medication is used for
TWINRIX® ([combined hepatitis A (inactivated) and hepatitis B (recombinant) vaccine]) is a vaccine used in adults, adolescents, children and infants to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B diseases.
What it does
The vaccine works by causing the body to produce its own protection (antibodies) against these diseases.
- Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is an infectious disease, which can affect the liver. This disease is caused by the hepatitis A virus. The hepatitis A virus is generally spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with hepatitis A . Hepatitis A virus can survive up to 10 months in water and on dried surfaces for 7 days. Persons with hepatitis A virus infection may not have any signs or symptoms of the disease. Older persons are more likely to have symptoms than children. If symptoms are present, they usually occur abruptly and may include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Symptoms usually last less than 2 months; a few persons are ill for as long as 6 months. It takes an average of 28 days (range: 15-50 days) for symptoms to appear. During this incubation period, a person may pass hepatitis A on to others, despite having no symptoms.
- Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is an infectious disease, which affects the liver. The disease is caused by the hepatitis B virus. The virus is found in body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or saliva (spit) of infected people. The hepatitis B virus is generally spread from person to person via the transfer of virus through any perforation in the skin. Hepatitis B can survive on surfaces for at least 7 days and still be capable of causing infection. If symptoms occur, they occur on the average of 12 weeks (range 9-21 weeks) after exposure to hepatitis B virus. Symptoms occur in about 70% of patients. Symptoms are more likely to occur in adults than in children. Sometimes a person with hepatitis B viral infection has no symptoms at all. The older you are the more likely you are to have symptoms. You might be infected with hepatitis B virus (and be spreading the virus) and not know it. If you have symptoms, they might include: yellow skin or yellowing of the white of your eyes (jaundice), tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain.
Vaccination is the best way to protect against these diseases.
It is impossible to get Hepatitis A or B diseases from the TWINRIX® vaccine.
When it should not be used
Do not use TWINRIX® if:
- you have experienced any health problems after previous administration of a vaccine.
- you have previously had any allergic reaction to TWINRIX®, or any ingredient contained in this vaccine (see What the medicinal ingredient is and What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are sections). Signs of an allergic reaction may include itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue.
- you have previously had an allergic reaction to any vaccine against hepatitis A and hepatitis B diseases.
- you have a severe infection with a high temperature (over 38°C). A minor infection such as a cold should not be a problem, but talk to your doctor first.
What the medicinal ingredient is
TWINRIX® contains the following active ingredients:
- inactivated hepatitis A virus [adsorbed on aluminum-oxide hydrated].
- hepatitis B virus surface antigen recombinant (S protein) [adsorbed on aluminum phosphate produced on genetically-engineered yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)].
For a full listing of nonmedicinal ingredients see Part 1 of the product monograph.
What the non-medicinal ingredients are
TWINRIX® contains the following nonmedicinal ingredients: aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, sodium chloride and water for injection. The vaccine also contains traces of: amino acids for injection, formaldehyde, neomycin sulphate and polysorbate 20.
What dosage form it comes in
TWINRIX® is available in single dose vials and syringes in packages of 1, 10 and 25.
TWINRIX® Junior is available in single dose vials in packages of 1, 3 and 10 and syringes in packages of 1 and 10.
Warnings and precautions
BEFORE you use TWINRIX® talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:
- you are or think you may be pregnant or if you intend to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss with you the possible risks and benefits of having TWINRIX® during pregnancy.
- you are breastfeeding. It is not known if TWINRIX® passes into breast milk, however the vaccine is not expected to cause problems in breast-fed babies.
- you have a poor immune system due to illness or drug treatment.
- you have a bleeding problem or bruise easily.
- you are taking any other medicine or have recently received any other vaccine.
- you have any known allergies.
As with other vaccines, a lower immune response is more common in older people, men rather than women, smokers, obese people, and people with long standing illnesses, or people on some type of drug treatments. Your doctor may advise you to have a blood test after you have completed the course of vaccinations to check if you have a satisfactory hepatitis B (antigen) response. If not, your doctor will advise you on the possible need to have extra doses.
In these cases, your doctor can determine the right time and schedule of vaccination for you.
Fainting (Syncope) can occur following, or even before, any needle injection; therefore, tell the doctor or nurse if you or your child fainted with a previous injection so that procedures can be put in place to avoid injury from faints.
Interactions with this medication
TWINRIX® can be given at the same time as either a combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliomyelitis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine or a combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, in the second year of life. TWINRIX® Junior can be given at the same time as CERVARIX®, a Human Papillomavirus vaccine.
Ask your health professional for advice about which vaccines may be given at the same time as TWINRIX® or TWINRIX® Junior.
TWINRIX® may not have an optimal effect if used with medicines that suppress the immune system.
Proper use of this medication
Usual Dose
Pediatric Dosing Schedule:
| Vaccination Schedule | Age | Vaccine | Dosing Schedule (months) | Dosing Schedule (months) | Dosing Schedule (months) | Dosing Schedule (months) |
| Standard (3 dose) |
1-18 years | TWINRIX® Junior (0.5 mL) |
X | X | X | |
| Alternate (2 dose) |
1-15 years | TWINRIX® (1 mL) |
X | 6 to 12 months | 6 to 12 months |
Adult Dosing Schedule:
| Vaccination Schedule | Age | Vaccine | Dosing Schedule (months) |
Dosing Schedule (months) |
Dosing Schedule (months) |
Dosing Schedule (months) |
| 0 | 1 | 6 | 12 | |||
| Standard (3 dose) |
Adults over 19 years of age | TWINRIX® (1 mL) |
X | X | X | |
| Vaccination Schedule |
Age | Vaccine | Dosing Schedule - (days) | Dosing Schedule - (days) | Dosing Schedule - (days) | Dosing Schedule - (months) |
| 0 | 7 | 21 | 12 | |||
| Rapid (4 dose) |
Adults over 19 years of age | TWINRIX® (1 mL) |
X | X | X | X |
Overdose
Missed Dose
If you miss a scheduled injection, talk to your doctor and arrange another visit.
Make sure you finish the complete vaccination course. If not, you may not be fully protected against the diseases.
Side effects and what to do about them
Any vaccine can have some side effects.
Side effects that occurred in adults during clinical trials with the standard (3 dose) and rapid (4 dose) TWINRIX® vaccination schedule were as follows:
Very common (more than 10% of doses): Pain or discomfort, redness at the injection site, headache and tiredness.
Common (between 1% and 10% of doses): Swelling at the injection site, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and generally feeling unwell.
Uncommon (between 0.1% and 1% of doses): Fever (more than 37.5C) , dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, and aching muscles.
Rare (between 0.01% and 0.1% of doses): Swollen glands in the neck, armpit or groin, loss of appetite, pins and needles, low blood pressure, rash and itching, muscle and joint pain and flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills.
Very Rare (less than 0.01% of doses): Hives.
Side effects that occurred in children during clinical trials who received the standard (3 dose) TWINRIX® Junior vaccination schedule were as follows:
Very common (more than 10% of doses): Pain and redness at the injection site.
Common (between 1% and 10% of doses): Swelling at the injection site, fever (more than 37.5C), irritability, drowsiness, headache, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and generally feeling unwell.
Uncommon (between 0.1% and 1% of doses): Rash.
Rare (between 0.01% and 0.1% of doses): Swollen glands in the neck, armpit or groin, dizziness and hives.
Very Rare (less than 0.01% of doses): Pins and needles, loss of skin sensitivity to pain or touch, numbness of the arms and legs, low blood pressure, rash and itching, aching muscles and joint pain and flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, cough and chills.
Side effects that occurred in children during clinical trials who received the alternate (2 dose) TWINRIX® vaccination schedule were as follows:
Very common (more than 10% of doses): Pain and redness at the injection site, tiredness, headache, irritability, and loss of appetite.
Common (between 1% and 10% of doses): Swelling at the injection site, fever, drowsiness, stomach and digestive complaints.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. It is likely that you will have no side effects from vaccination.
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking TWINRIX®, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store
Store in a refrigerator (2 - 8°C).
Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
Do not freeze. Freezing destroys the vaccine.
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use after the expiry date stated on the pack. The date for last use corresponds to the last day of the month mentioned.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following three ways:
- Report online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
- Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
- Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and:
- Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or
- Mail to:
Canada Vigilance Program
Health Canada
Postal Locator 0701E
Ottawa ON K1A 0K9
Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffectTM Canada Web site at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.
NOTE: Should you require information related to the management of side effects, contact your health professional. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.
More information
This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found at:
http://www.gsk.ca or by contacting the sponsor, GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
7333 Mississauga Road
Mississauga, Ontario
L5N 6L4
1-800-387-7374
This leaflet was prepared by GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
Last revised:
© 2014 GlaxoSmithKline Inc. All Rights Reserved.
® TWINRIX, HAVRIX, ENGERIX and CERVARIX are registered trademarks, used under license by GlaxoSmithKline Inc.