Plague Vaccine (Systemic)

Before Receiving This Vaccine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For plague vaccine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to plague vaccine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies on the effects of plague vaccine in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.

Breast-feeding - This vaccine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children and teenagers - Studies on plague vaccine have been done only in adult patients between the ages of 18 and 61, and there is no specific information comparing use of plague vaccine in children and teenagers younger than 18 years of age with use in other age groups. Although there is no specific information comparing use of plague vaccine in children and teenagers younger than 18 years of age with use in other age groups, this vaccine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children or teenagers than it does in adults.

Older adults - Studies on plague vaccine have been done only in adult patients between the ages of 18 and 61, and there is no specific information comparing use of plague vaccine in persons 61 years of age and older with use in other age groups. Although there is no specific information comparing use of plague vaccine in the elderly with use in other age groups, this vaccine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of plague vaccine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Previous sensitivity reaction to plague vaccine - Use of plague vaccine is not recommended

• Severe illness with fever - The symptoms of the condition may be confused with the side effects of the vaccine