Infanrix hexa vaccine is hexavalent vaccine given at age 6, 10 and 14 weeks
Infanrix Hexa a painless vaccine.
Infanrix hexa is a hexavalent vaccine. It is from brand GSK vaccines and widely available in many countries. Hexa means six. So it protects from six diseases. It is acellular pertussis based vaccine. It contains DTaP with hepatitis B, HiB and inactivated poliovaccine.
About Infanrix Hexa vaccine:
As we discussed above this is a hexavalent vaccine that is it protects from 6 diseases namely diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type B and polio.
Above are the components of the Infanrix hexa vaccine. It contains tetanus toxoid 40 IU and diphtheria toxoid 30 IU. For pertussis it contains killed pertussis cell purified antigens pertussis toxoid (PT) 25 mcg, filamentus hemagglutinin (FHA) 25 mcg and pertactin (PRN) 8 mcg. For hepatitis B it contains HBsAg 10 mcg. For HiB it contains HiB polysaccharide 10 mcg and it is conjugated to tetanus toxoid. It contains all the 3 poliovirus strains in inactivated form. Additionally it contains all 3 strain of poliovirus in killed inactivated form. Aluminium salts namely aluminium hydroxide and aluminium phosphates are added for the adsorption process adsorption process helps to boost the immune effect against the vaccine antigens.
| Infanrix Hexa | |
| Tetanus toxoid | 40 IU |
| Diphtheria toxoid | 30 IU |
| Pertussis toxoid (PT) | 25 mcg |
| Filamentous Hemagglutinin (FHA) | 25 mcg |
| Pertactin (PRN) | 8 mcg |
| Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs) | 10 mcg |
| Poliovius inactivated Type 1 | 40 D antigen units |
| Poliovirus Inactivated Type 2 | 8 D antigen units |
| Poliovirus Inactivated Type 3 | 32 D antigen units |
| Haemophilus influezae type B polysaccharide | 10 mcg |
| Conjugated to Tetanus toxoid carrier protein | 25 mcg |
| Adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide | 0.5 mg |
| Adsorbed on aluminium phosphate | 0.32 mg |
| Polymixin, neomycin and formaldehyde traces may present as these are used while producing in various stages. | |
| It is prepared by recombinant DNA technology produced on yeast cells. | |
| It is propagated in VERO cells. | |
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At what age Infanrix hexa vaccine is given?
Infanrix hexa vaccine is given where all the six components are needed to be given. It helps to reduce the number of pricks given to child. Infanrix hexa vaccine is recommended at age 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age in routine immunization. If pentavalent vaccine containing DTaP, HiB and IPV is unavailable for first booster at age 18 months then Infanrix hexa vaccine can be given at age 18 months. There is no harm in giving additional dose of Hepatitis B vaccine.
How is Infanrix hexa given?
Infanrix hexa vaccine is given by injection. It is usually given in anterolateral aspect of the thigh. It is safe to use this vaccine in children below 7 years of age.
How is Infanrix hexa vaccine stored?
Infanrix hexa vaccine is stored at 2-8 degree Celsius. The temperature is to be maintained at all stages of transport and storage till it reaches to patient from the production facility. If any time temperature goes below 2 degrees or above 8 degrees Celsius, the vaccine is frozen accidentally, it should be discarded.
Safety of vaccine with other vaccines:
This vaccine is safe and can be given with other vaccines but some studies have shown increased incidences of fever and convulsion when given with prevenar 13 vaccine. Some studies have shown no such correlation.
What are side effects of Infanrix hexa vaccine?
Local swelling and pain, fever are the main side effects of the This vaccine. These side effects are generally mild and can be managed at home with or without medications. Fever more than 38 degrees Celsius may be noted and can come till 3-4 days after injection.
It is generally reduced with paracetamol. Local swelling and pain is reduced with oral peracetamol and cold compression at the site of the injection. Irritability and crying can occur after the injection and generally lasts only for few hours.
Other major and potentially life threatening side effects are extremely rare. Like all other vaccine this vaccine too can cause anaphylaxis reaction so the center at which vaccine is given should be ready with anaphylaxis management kit and oxygenation.
Overall side effects are minor when compared to harm caused by the diseases and also when compared to whole cell pertussis vaccines like DTwP vaccine.
What are benefits of Infanrix hexa vaccine?
Benefits of Infanrix Hexa vaccine
There were many queries to us about benefits of Infanrix hexa vaccine.
Here we will discuss about the benefits of Infanrix hexa vaccine in details.
As we have seen before that Infanrix hexa is a vaccine that is used to prevent diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, polio and HiB disease. It is used to protect children from six major diseases. It has following benefits.
- · Protection.
- · Hexavalent.
- · Pain.
- · Lesser side effects.
- · Availability.
- · Trusted brand.
- · Safety.
- · Cost.
Protection
In terms of providing protection Infanrix Hexa vaccine is excellent. It protects children from diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza B disease.
It is found to produce adequate level of antibodies which provide the immunity against all these diseases. These are some of the major illness that can be life threatening in children less than 5 year old.
Given as per schedule Infanrix hexa vaccine is excellent in efficacy.
Hexavalent
Being a hexavalent vaccine it provides protection against 6 diseases in one injection shot.
There is no need to take the vaccine for each disease separately.
This greatly reduces the number of pricks to children and increases compliance with the vaccination.
Pain
As infanrix Hexa vaccine contains the acellular pertussis component it is less painful than DTwP vaccines which are Easysix and Pentavac.
Lesser side effects
Also with this vaccine the other common side effects like local redness and swelling, fever, irritability and decreased appetite are reduced nearly 70 percent when compared to vaccine containing DTwP.
Lesser the side effects more is the compliance with the vaccination. It disturbs the parents’ and infants’ daily schedule to minimal.
Availability
This vaccine is available worldwide in many countries in private set up. It is easily available everywhere. You just need to contact your pediatrician for the appointment.
Trusted brand
This vaccine is produced by the GSK vaccines. It is trusted brand of vaccines for many years in fact decades.
They have that expertise to make the safe and effective vaccinations and providing it worldwide every possible precaution like maintaining the cold chain.
Safety
These both has been in used for years now.
There is sufficient data about reactions and also interactions with other vaccine. All the data over the years indicates the vaccine is safe as well as effective in nearly all children.
The severe life threatening reactions like anaphylaxis are extremely rare to occur in case of Infanrix and Infanrix hexa vaccine.
Cost
These both vaccines are available at reasonable cost.
Their cost may be higher when compared to other vaccine containing DTwP but that is justified provided it is very safe and effective vaccine that protects against 6 major diseases and also it is painless with lesser side effects.
So here we have tried to explain the benefits of Infanrix hexa vaccine in details.
To whom Infanrix hexa vaccine should not be given?
Contraindications of this vaccine are very few and very rare to occur. If someone
has shown anaphylaxis after previous dose of the vaccine this vaccine is contraindicated. If someone is known to be allergic to any of its component this vaccine should be avoided. If someone is suffering from neurological disease that is progressive in nature this vaccine should be avoided.