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Published on: May 6, 2015
Hexavalent vaccines for immunization in paediatric age
S Esposito1, C Tagliabue, S Bosis
1Paediatric High Intensity Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
Insights
Combined hexavalent vaccines simplify immunization schedules, reducing missed vaccinations and healthcare costs. This review examines the immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety of these combination vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, and Hib.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Increasing vaccine availability can complicate immunization schedules, potentially reducing coverage.
- Combined vaccines offer benefits like fewer patient visits, reduced injection complications, and lower costs.
- Combined vaccines minimize the risk of delayed or missed vaccinations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the immunogenicity, efficacy, safety, and tolerability of hexavalent vaccines.
- To discuss commercially available and developing hexavalent vaccine preparations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on hexavalent vaccines.
- Analysis of immunogenicity, efficacy, safety, and tolerability data.
- Comparison of available and developmental hexavalent vaccine formulations.
Main Results:
- Hexavalent vaccines combine antigens for diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP), hepatitis B (HBsAg), poliomyelitis (P1, P2, P3), and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).
- Data on immunogenicity, efficacy, safety, and tolerability of various hexavalent vaccines are presented.
- Both available and developmental hexavalent vaccines are assessed.
Conclusions:
- Hexavalent vaccines present a viable strategy to improve vaccination coverage and adherence.
- These combination vaccines demonstrate favorable immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety profiles.
- Further development and implementation of hexavalent vaccines are supported by current evidence.
Abstract:
Despite the potential for protection against a broad spectrum of pathogens, the availability of an increased number of effective vaccines could lead to a significant reduction in vaccination coverage as the result of issues with implementation of new vaccines within existing protocols. To overcome these problems, the development of combined vaccines has been promoted. The use of combined vaccines offers a number of potential benefits, including a reduction in the number of patient visits, reduced complications associated with multiple intramuscular injections, decreased costs of stocking and administering separate vaccines, and a lowering of the risk of delayed or missed vaccinations. The hexavalent vaccine includes antigens against diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (DTaP), hepatitis B (HBsAg), poliomyelitis (P1, P2, P3) and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) infections. The primary goal of this review is to discuss the immunogenicity, efficacy, safety and tolerability of several hexavalent preparations that are either commercially available or still under development.
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