title: Combination vaccines.
abstract: Recently multiple individual vaccines were put together into one syringe. This is ideal to simplify the administration of vaccines and reduce emotional distress from multiple injections. However, combination of many vaccines may interfere with the properties of each individual antigen and complicate the schedule. From earlier studies, most of the combinations of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whole-cell) vaccine (DTPw), Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib), hepatitis B vaccine (HBV), and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) were safe and adequately immunogenic. On the other hand, there was a notable reduction in anti-PRP when Hib was combined with acellular pertussis vaccine (DTPa). Combination of hepatitis A vaccine and HBV was safe and effective. Those coming soon in the pipeline are DTPa-Hib-HBV, MMR-varicella, pneumococcal-meningococcal. With the increase in demand, health-care providers need to be acquainted to these combination vaccines. The bottom line is to make sure that the children get vaccination appropriately.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kulkanya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chokephaibulkit
mesh_terms: D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013785:Thailand; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D017778:Vaccines, Combined; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C050102:measles, mumps, rubella, varicella vaccine