Pentacel: Pentavalent painless vaccine (DTaP+IPV+HiB)
Pentacel vaccine is a penta-valent vaccine. It is from brand Sanofi and widely available in many countries. Penta means five. So it protects from five diseases. It is acellular pertussis based vaccine. It contains DTaP with HiB polysaccharide, and inactivated polio vaccine.
Table of Contents
About Pentacel vaccine:
As we discussed above this is a penta-valent vaccine that is it protects from 5 diseases namely diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and HiB, and polio.
| Tetanus toxoid | 5 Lf |
| Diphtheria toxoid | 15 Lf |
| Pertussis toxoid (PT) | 20 mcg |
| Filamentous Hemagglutinin (FHA) | 20 mcg |
| Pertactin (PRN) | 3 mcg |
| FIM | 5 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 |
| polyribosyl-ribitol-phosphate (PRP) of H. influenzae type b covalently bound to 24 µg of tetanus toxoid (PRP-T) | 10 mcg |
| Adsorbed on aluminium phosphate | 1.5 mg |
| Polymixin, neomycin and formaldehyde traces may present as these are used while producing in various stages. |
At what age Pentacel vaccine is given?
Pentacel vaccine is given where all the five 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 Pentacel vaccine can be given at age 18 months.
How is Pentacel given?
Pentacel 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 Pentacel vaccine stored?
Pentacel 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:
Pentacel vaccine is safe and can be given with other vaccines but some studies have shown increased incidences of fever and convulsion when given. Some studies have shown no such correlation.
What are side effects of Pentacel vaccine?
Local swelling and pain, fever are the main side effects of the Pediarix 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 Pentacel vaccine?
There were many queries to us about benefits of This nvaccine.
Here we will discuss about the benefits of this 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. 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 This vaccine is excellent. It protects children from diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, HiB.
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 Pentacel vaccine is excellent in efficacy.
Pentavalent
Being a pentavalent vaccine it provides protection against 5 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 Pentacel 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
Pentacel 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
Pentacel vaccine is produced by the Sanofi. 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
Pentacel 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 this vaccine.
Cost
This vaccine is 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 5 major diseases and also it is painless with lesser side effects.
So here we have tried to explain the benefits of Pediarix vaccine in details.
To whom Pentacel 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.