BackgroundThe DTaP-IPV/Hib combination vaccine can replace the acellular tetanus vaccine, polio vaccine, and the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine. Data on the safety of DTaP-IPV/Hib vaccines are required. We aimed to evaluate the safety of the vaccination program. MethodsUsing the National Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) surveillance system (CNAEFIS) in Guangzhou, China, a retrospective study was performed from May 11, 2011, to December 31, 2017. There were 376 cases of adverse events after vaccination with the DTaP IPV/Hib vaccine. The primary analysis indicators were the number of vaccines used, the number of AEFI reports received, and the reporting rate (per 100,000). ResultsFrom May 1, 2011, to December 31, 2017, 516,000 doses of vaccine were inoculated, and 376 cases of adverse reactions were reported; the reporting rate was 72.8 per 100,000 vaccines. There were eight cases of serious AEFIs (1.5 per 100,000), with four cases of thrombocytopenic purpura (0.8 per 100,000); three cases of cyanosis of the lips, stiffness, and flexion of limbs, and convulsions (0.6 per 100,000); and one case of a high fever (0.2 per 100,000). The highest incidence of AEFIs occurred after the fourth dose (n = 207, 55.0%, 40.1 per 100,000), followed by the first dose (n = 81, 21.5%, 15.7 per 100,000), second dose (n = 48, 12.8%, 9.3 per 100,000) and third dose (n = 40, 10.6%, 7.7 per 100,000). The AEFI incidence was higher after injection of the vaccine into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm (n = 276, 73.4%, 53.5 per 100,000) than after injection of the vaccine into the thigh (n = 100, 26.6%, 19.4 per 100,000). There was a significant difference between AEFIs after injection into the deltoid of the upper arm deltoid and the thigh (x2 = 164.8, P < 0.05). ConclusionsMost of the reported AEFIs after DTaP-IPV/Hib vaccination are not serious. There were four cases of TP in this study; vaccination may be a rare cause of thrombocytopenic purpura.