Neither paracetamol nor ibuprofen protects children against local reactions to the DTaP vaccine

Research question Can ibuprofen or paracetamol reduce the risk of local reactions to the DTaP vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough?

Answer Probably not. Among children receiving their fifth dose, these medicines were no better at preventing local reactions than a placebo.

Why did the authors do the study? Children in the US receive five doses of a combined vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough, commonly known as DTaP (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids-acellular pertussis). Reactions at the injection site become more likely with each dose, so that by the fifth dose up to two thirds of …