Reduced rate of side effects associated with separate administration of MMR and DTaP-Hib-IPV vaccinations.
BACKGROUND
According to the Israeli immunization schedule, 1 year old babies should receive two concomitant vaccinations: MMR (measles-mumps-rubella), and DTap-Hib-IPV (diphtheria tetanus acellular pertussis-Haemophilus influenzae type b-poliomyelitis). However, about one-third of infants in Israel receive these vaccinations separately. Nurses at a primary care prevention clinic in Israel observed that the separate mode of vaccination is associated with a lower rate of side effects.


OBJECTIVE
To validate this observation and determine whether it represents an exception or the rule.


METHODS
A nested prospective follow-up study was conducted in a primary care clinic in Israel. The survey included 191 mothers and their offspring born during 2004/2005. The mothers were interviewed over the telephone 2 weeks after the day of vaccination.


RESULTS
The rate of adverse effects in children who received the injections separately was significantly lower than among those who were vaccinated simultaneously (40% vs. 57%).


CONCLUSIONS
It may be necessary to reconsider the current vaccination policy regarding concomitant injections.
Shneyer
Elena
E
School of Public Health, Haifa University, Haifa, Israel.
Strulov
Avshalom
A
Rosenfeld
Yaakov
Y
D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D011054:Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated