Immunogenicity and Reactogenicity of Diphtheria—Tetanus—Acellular Pertussis—Hepatitis B—Inactivated Poliovirus and Haemophilus influenzae Type B Vaccines Administered Concomitantly to Infants as a Three-dose Primary Course

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of primary vaccination with combined diphtheria–tetanus–acellular pertussis–hepatitis B–inactivated poliovirus (DTPa–HBV–IPV) vaccine when co-administered with Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) conjugate vaccine were assessed in 60 healthy infants. Infants received HBV vaccine at birth, then DTPa–HBV–IPV and Hib vaccines at age 1.5 months, 3.5 months and 6 months. Blood samples were collected before the first DTPa–HBV–IPV and Hib vaccine doses and 1 month after dose 3. Reactogenicity was assessed using diary cards. One month after primary vaccination, all infants were seroprotected/seropositive against all vaccine antigens evaluated. The poliovirus antigen could not be evaluated. The vaccines were well tolerated. No case of fever > 39.0°C was reported. No serious adverse events were considered related to vaccination. Primary vaccination with DTPa–HBV–IPV and Hib vaccines was immunogenic and well tolerated. Combined vaccines, such as this pentavalent vaccine, minimize the number of injections and vaccination visits required to complete primary vaccination, and provide choice and flexibility for physicians and vaccine providers.