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Subcutaneous versus intramuscular administration of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine
Insights
Subcutaneous injection of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine is preferred over intramuscular administration. Subcutaneous delivery resulted in less pain and injection site tenderness in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections pose a significant health risk to young children.
- Effective vaccination strategies are crucial for preventing Hib disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the safety and adverse reactions of subcutaneous (S.C.) versus intramuscular (I.M.) administration of the b-CAPSA I Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine (Hib).
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 498 children aged 15 months to 5 years immunized with Hib vaccine.
- Vaccine administered either S.C. or I.M. to alternating children.
- Adverse reactions documented through follow-up visits and telephone contact, with paired analysis.
Main Results:
- Pain during inoculation was significantly more frequent with I.M. administration (p < 0.01).
- Injection site tenderness occurred in 4 children in the I.M. group versus none in the S.C. group (p = 0.06).
- No significant differences in other adverse reactions between S.C. and I.M. groups.
Conclusions:
- Subcutaneous injection of the Hib vaccine appears to be better tolerated than intramuscular administration.
- Subcutaneous administration is suggested as the preferred method for Hib vaccine delivery in children.
- Further research may confirm the long-term safety and efficacy of S.C. Hib vaccination.
Abstract:
Four hundred ninety eight children of 15 months to 5 years of age were immunized with 0.5 ml of b-CAPSATM I Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine (Hib). Every other child received the vaccine subcutaneously (S.C.) and the alternates received the vaccine intramuscularly (I.M.). Two hundred and two (81.1%) children in the S.C. group and 198 (79.5%) children in the I.M. group returned for follow-up visits 48-72 hours after the immunization and had the adverse reactions documented. The rest were contacted by telephone. After matching for sex and age, we had 194 pairs (103 males and 91 females) in each group with a mean age difference between the pairs of 0.4 month. Based on paired comparisons, pain, manifested as crying, at the time of inoculation was more frequent with intramuscular administration (p less than 0.01). Tenderness at the injection site occurred in 4 children in the I.M. group but none in the S.C. group and was of borderline statistical significance (p = 0.06). The occurrence of other adverse reactions was not significantly different between the two groups. The findings of this study suggest that subcutaneous injection is the method of choice for Hib vaccine administration.