Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2025
Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens
Published on: May 19, 2020
Changes in vaccination practices among infants after the introduction of DTaP-IPV/Hib combination vaccines
Hee-Jin Kim1, Suvin Park1, Na-Young Jeong1
1Department of Health Convergence, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Insights
The introduction of the DTaP-IPV/Hib combination vaccine in Korea significantly increased infant vaccination rates. This shift reduced the average number of medical visits required for infant immunization schedules.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- The Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, polio, and Haemophilus influenza type B (DTaP-IPV/Hib) combination vaccine was integrated into Korea's National Immunization Program (NIP) in June 2017.
- Combination vaccines simplify immunization schedules, potentially improving vaccination coverage rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the DTaP-IPV/Hib combination vaccine's introduction on infant vaccination practices within the Korean NIP.
- To analyze changes in the completion rates of primary DTaP, IPV, and Hib vaccine series and the frequency of vaccination-related medical visits.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide vaccine registry was utilized to analyze data from infants born between 2013 and 2019.
- The study estimated the proportion of infants completing the DTaP, IPV, and Hib (D-I-H) primary series within 12 months of age.
- Vaccination patterns and the frequency of medical visits were compared between pre- and post-introduction birth cohorts (2013-2016 vs. 2017-2019).
Main Results:
- Of 2,703,822 infants, 96.7% completed the primary D-I-H series within 12 months.
- Before 2017, most infants received DTaP-IPV-only vaccines (75.4%); after introduction, most received DTaP-IPV/Hib-only (81.0%).
- A statistically significant difference in the average frequency of medical visits for vaccination was observed across different DTaP component groups (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- The DTaP-IPV/Hib combination vaccine facilitated higher completion rates for the primary D-I-H series in infants.
- Introduction of the combination vaccine led to a significant decrease in the average number of medical visits for infant vaccinations.
- Findings offer valuable insights for other countries considering the adoption of combination vaccines in their national immunization programs.
Background:
Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, polio, and Haemophilus influenza type B (DTaP-IPV/Hib) combination vaccine was introduced as a part of the Korea National Immunization Program (NIP) on June 19, 2017. Combination vaccines can improve vaccination rates by simplifying the vaccination schedule.
Objective:
To explain how the introduction of DTaP-IPV/Hib in the NIP has changed vaccination practices for infants.
Methods:
Using a nationwide vaccine registry, the proportion of infants who completed the full recommended doses of the primary series of DTaP, IPV, and Hib (D-I-H) within 12 months of age was estimated among those born between 2013 and 2019. Among those, the proportions of those who received the same DTaP components for all 3 doses during the primary series were calculated for the 2013-2016 and the 2017-2019 birth cohorts. Those who received the same component of DTaP throughout the entire primary vaccination schedule were categorized into 3 groups by DTaP components to compare the average frequency of medical visits for vaccination.
Results:
A total of 2,703,822 infants were born between 2013 and 2019, of which 96.7% completed full doses of the primary D-I-H series within 12 months of age. For the 2013-2016 birth cohorts, most received DTaP-IPV-only (75.4%), while most of the 2017-2019 birth cohorts received DTaP-IPV/Hib-only (81.0%) to complete the 3 doses for primary D-I-H series. The average frequency of medical visits for vaccination showed a significant difference across the 3 groups classified by DTaP components in every birth cohort (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
After the introduction of DTaP-IPV/Hib, most infants completed the primary D-I-H series with the combination vaccine and there was a significant reduction in the average number of medical visits for vaccination. Our findings provide important insights for countries considering the introduction of combination vaccines into their NIP.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:25Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...