Pneumonia Shot Succeeds With Five-Vaccine Combo for Kids
Giving children a pneumococcal vaccine along with a combo vaccine for five other childhood diseases was found safe and effective for both vaccines, according to a study reported here.
An investigational combination vaccine, Pentacel, against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, poliomyelitis, and Haemophilus influenzae, did not interfere with the immunogenicity of Prevnar (Wyeth), a seven-valent conjugate vaccine against pneumococcus infection, said Kathryn M. Edwards, M.D., of Vanderbilt.
This would appear to allow the two vaccines to be administrated at the same time, she and colleagues researchers reported at a meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
“Earlier studies have shown that co-administration of vaccines can interfere with immune responses to one or more components,” said Dr. Edwards.
When both Prevnar, the pneumococcal vaccine, and Pentacel were administered at the same time, there was no observed interference in the immune responses or the safety of the vaccines. “The use of combination vaccines reduces the number of injections needed in young children, a welcome benefit for parents and infants,” she added.
Diphtheria immunization (vaccine)
This is an immunization (vaccination) to protect against diptheria (a bacterial disease that affects the throat and can cause serious or fatal complications). See also immunizations - general overview.
There are three forms of diphtheria immunization described next. See also pertussis immunization (vaccine) and Tetanus - vaccine.
The DTaP vaccine is a “3-in-1” vaccine that protects against Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus. It can be given to children less than 7 years old. It is given by injection, usually into the arm or the thigh.
The DT vaccine is a “2-in-1” vaccine that can be given to children less than 7 years old. It protects against diphtheria and tetanus. It is given by injection, usually into the arm or thigh.
The Td vaccine is the “adult” vaccine. It is a “2-in-1” vaccine that protects against tetanus and diphtheria. It contains a slightly different dose of diphtheria vaccine than the DT vaccine. It can be given to anyone older than 7 years old. The vaccine is injected, usually into the arm.
In the Vanderbilt study, 3,022 healthy infants at 23 sites in the U.S. were given Pentacel and Prevnar vaccines at two months, four months and six months of age. The children were also given the required Hepatitis B vaccinations.
The results showed that the pneumococcal vaccine did not interfere with antibody responses to any component of investigational Pentacel when given concomitantly at two, four and six months of age. Dr. Edwards reported that her team found equivalence for all antigens based on seroresponse, seroprotection, and geometric mean titers. The researchers also studied different lots of the vaccine and different facilities, but found no statistical differences.
The study was funded by Pentacel’s maker, Sanofi-Pasteur, in Swiftwater, Pa. A marketing application for Pentacel was filed with the FDA on Sept. 23, 2005.
Pertussis - vaccine
This is an immunization (vaccination) that protects against pertussis (whooping cough), a severe and potentially deadly childhood bacterial infection that affects the airways. Pertussis is characterized by a severe, persistent cough and whooping or crowing sound on inspiration (taking a breath).
“These are very important data,” said Steven Black, M.D., director of the Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center in Oakland. “The vaccine induces high levels of antibodies, which we know correlates to protection against disease. And it does that without compromising safety - there were no spike in fevers - or immunogenicity.” Dr. Black did not participate in Dr. Edwards’ study.
In a second study, Canadian researchers sought possible short- or long-term adverse reactions to Pentacel six to eight months after inoculation. “When you solicit adverse events you usually can find some,” said Danuta Skowronski, M.D., an epidemiologist with the British Columbia Center for Disease Control in Vancouver. “We looked for adverse events, but basically we didn’t find any.”
The researchers followed up with the parents of 3,213 children who received a fourth dose of Pentacel - a booster at 18 months. “Six to eight months after the child received the fourth dose, we visited the homes,” Dr. Skowronski reported in a poster presentation.
“Despite a sensitive case definition, active and systemic inquiry, and follow-up after a long interval from receipt of the vaccine, we found few solicited events with no unusual event clustering around a fourth dose of Pentacel vaccine,” Dr. Skowronski said.
“Post-marketing evaluations provide the advantages of greater efficiency and power in monitoring vaccine safety,” she said. “Such evaluations should be encouraged to maintain public confidence in vaccine programs.”
The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae, hepatitis B, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines all be administered to well babies in the first six months of life
Source: Infectious Diseases Society of America, 43rd annual meeting
Revision date: June 21, 2011
Last revised: by Andrew G. Epstein, M.D.