Pentavalent vaccines are popularly known as five-in-one vaccines.
The vaccine protects against five major diseases, which are Diphteria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type B, and Hepatitis B.
It combines five different vaccines in a single vial, thereby saving costs and causing less distress and inconvenience, and overall protection is achieved quickly and safely.
Though the vaccine had existed since the early 1990s, it was not until the early 2000s that low- to middle-income countries started to adopt it.
What are vaccines?
Vaccines stimulate your immune system to produce antibodies, which fight diseases just as they would if you were exposed to the disease.
Once a vaccine is given, immunity is developed to that disease, and there is little or no chance of getting the disease.
You should also note that vaccines have the same organisms that cause disease, but this time in a dead or weakened form so that they don’t make you ill.
The pentavalent vaccine
The vaccine mainly contains the antigens, which include:
- Diphteria toxoid: Corynebacterium diphteriae is a bacterium that causes diphtheria and is characterized by inflammation of the heart muscles and nerves and sometimes kidney problems.
- Tetanus toxoid: Clostridium tetani is a bacterium that causes a tetanus infection characterized by muscle spasms. The tetanus toxoid vaccine protects against all forms of tetanus.
- B pertussis whole cell: Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough, a respiratory tract infection characterized by paroxysmal cough. The protection of the pertussis vaccine may be reduced after 1 to 6 years.
- HBsAg (rDNA): Hepatitis B virus, which causes liver disease and liver cancer.
- Purified capsular Hib polysaccharide: Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) is a deadly bacterium that causes pneumonia and meningitis.
Route of administration of the vaccine
The pentavalent vaccine is administered intramuscularly into the left mid-thigh.
Side effects of the vaccine
The side effects of pentavalent vaccines include:
- Swelling or tenderness at the injection site
- Loss of appetite
- Frequent loose stool
- Fever
- Irritability
A tepid sponge or bath can resolve the fever.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) could also be used to resolve fever, pain, or swelling.
What do you think about pentavalent vaccines?
Do you think combining five vaccines into one is worth it?
Let me know your thoughts in the comment section.
