Immunization 101: Pentavalent (5-in-1) Vaccine
Last
week, our little Queen B had two vaccinations schedule. The first one was last October
26 for the second dosage of her Influenza vaccine (more commonly known as the
flu vaccine) at our pediatrician while the second was last October 28 for a
dosage of the Measles vaccine at the local health center. So far, Georgina had
already a total of 13 injections. It could have been much more if not for the
development of combination vaccines.
A combination vaccine is a vaccine that
contains immunizing antigen against more than one vaccine preventable disease. According
to www.vaccine-safety-training.org
, here are the potential benefits of combination vaccines:
- It reduces the cost of stocking and administering of separate vaccines.
- It reduces the cost of extra health care visits.
- It improves the timeliness of vaccination as some parents and health care providers object to administering more than two or three injectable vaccines during a single visit because of child’s fear of needles and pain, and because of concerns regarding safety.
- It facilitates the addition of new vaccines into immunization programs.
An
example of a combination vaccine is the Pentavalent
Vaccine, also called 5-in-1 vaccine,
which combines vaccines against Diphtheria,
Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Hepatitis
B, and Haemophilus influenza type B
in one preparation.
Diphtheria
It
is a serious infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheria. Its signs and symptoms include a thick,
gray membrane covering one’s throat and tonsils, sore throat and hoarseness,
swollen glands in the neck, difficulty in breathing, nasal discharge, fever,
and chills. This disease can be fatal especially for children under five years
old.
Tetanus
It
is an infection caused by the bacterium Clostridium
tetani which is commonly found in soil, dust, and manure. The bacteria can
enter the body through a break in the skin such as a cut or a puncture wound by
a contaminated object. This disease is commonly called lockjaw as spasms and stiffness in the jaw muscles is its first
symptom. Other symptoms (in order of appearance) include stiffness of the neck
muscles, difficulty in swallowing, stiffness of the abdominal muscles, and
painful body spasms lasting for several minutes which can be triggered by a
draft, a loud noise, a physical touch, or even light. Fever, sweating, elevated
blood pressure, and rapid heart rate are other signs and symptoms of this
disease. Since tetanus can interfere with one’s breathing, it is a life
threatening disease.
Neonatal tetanus is a form of generalised tetanus that
occurs in newborns. Since I had my booster shot of the tetanus vaccine just two
or three years (it is effective for 10 years) before I got pregnant, my little
Queen B was able to acquire passive immunity against it.
Pertussis
It
is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Initial symptoms resemble the common cold
which include runny nose, nasal congestion, red, watery eyes, fever, and cough.
After a week or two, the symptoms will get worse. The severe coughing may cause
vomiting and extreme fatigue. Infants may not cough at all but have periods
where they do not breathe instead. It is an airborne illness that spreads
through the coughs and sneezes of the infected person.
Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib)
The
Haemophilus influenza type B bacteria may cause several life-threatening
diseases such as meningitis which
affects the brain, epiglottitis which
affects the throat and can cause death by suffocation, pericarditis which affects the heart, pneumonia which affects the lungs, and septic arthritis which affects the bones and joints. .
I
have already discussed Hepatitis B
in here.
The
Pentavalent Vaccine is part of the Philippine
Expanded Program of Immunization so it should be available at our local
health centers. Three (3) dosages of the Pentavalent Vaccine are needed. The
first dose can be given as early as six (6) weeks of age with four (4) weeks
interval between dosages. Our little Queen B received her final shot of the
Pentavalent Vaccine last June 17. All dosages of the Pentavalent Vaccine are
given intramuscularly.
Additional
dosages of vaccines are needed for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough),
and Haemophilus influenza type B bacteria. For Diphtheria, Tetanus, and
Pertussis (DTP), two (2) additional shots should be received. The fourth dose
can be given as early as twelve (12) months of age provided there is an
interval of at least six (6) months from the third dose while the fifth dose
can be given as early as four (4) years of age. If the fourth dose was
administered at age 4 years or older, a fifth dose may not be given. As for
Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) bacteria, a booster dose should be
administered between 12-15 months of age with an interval of at least six (6)
months from the third shot. All additional dosages for DTP and Hib are no
longer covered by the Philippine Expanded Program of Immunization so it can be
availed at your trusted pediatrician.
We were
fortunate that in our local health center, the Pentavalent Vaccine was always
available during our little Queen B’s vaccination schedule. Sadly, this is not
always the case elsewhere. It is important our babies do not miss a vaccination
schedule because researchers have found that skipping vaccines puts your child
at increased risk for contracting the disease. If a series of four (4) shots
are recommended for a certain vaccine, please make sure that your child
receives all the needed dosages.
Various
studies have shown that combination vaccines such as the Pentavalent Vaccine
are just as safe and effective when given individually. Even though I know by
experience that the pain of a vaccine is only momentary, I would still not
want to subject my baby to several shots in one given day. As it is, I am very
careful with my words before and after every vaccination as I do not want
Georgina to acquire a fear of injections or doctors. I hope that my words
reassure her that the pain she will feel is nothing compared to the pain of the
serious diseases the vaccine aims to protect her from. As always, clean
surroundings, adequate sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet go a long way in
protecting our children.
#xoxo
Sources:
What
to Expect the First Year
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