What is Pentavalent Vaccine?
Pentavalent Vaccine is a vaccine that contains
five antigens (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and
hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b).
Pentavalent Vaccine (DPT-HepB-Hib)
What are the advantages of Pentavalent
Vaccine?
The addition of Hib vaccine provides
protection against one more deadly disease.
The number of injections administered under
UIP during the first year of life reduces from
nine to six.
protection against
It does not require reconstitution.
Till what age can Pentavalent Vaccine be
administered?
As per National Immunization Schedule, Pentavalent
Vaccine should be started for any child aged more
than 6 weeks and can be given up to 1 year of age.
What is the schedule for pentavalent vaccine?
Three doses of pentavalent vaccine are included in
UIP.
The first dose is given only after a child is 6 weeks
old. The second and third doses are given at 10 and
14 weeks of age respectively, also in the form of
pentavalent vaccine.
There is no booster dose recommended under UIP.
Is there any reason why a child should not be given
Pentavalent Vaccine?
Age-a child below 6 weeks of age should not be given
Pentavalent Vaccine.
Vaccination history-a child whose vaccination
schedule has been initiated with DPT/hepatitis B
vaccine will continue to receive subsequent doses of
DPT/hepatitis B and not Pentavalent Vaccine
Severe allergic reactions-although serious side effects
have not been reported, a child who has had a severe
reaction to Pentavalent Vaccine earlier should not be
given another dose.
Children with moderate or severe acute illness should
not be administered Pentavalent Vaccine until their
condition improves. Minor illnesses, however, such as
upper respiratory infections( URIs)are not a
contraindication to vaccination.
A child who is 10 months old has not received any
immunization. What are the vaccines that can be given to
this child?
The child should receive BCG, measles, first dose of
pentavalent vaccine and first dose of JE vaccine(if child is
living in a Japanese encephalitis(JE) endemic district where
routine JE vaccine is being offered)with OPV dose and
Vitamin A syrup.
What vaccine will be given to a child who has
received at least one dose of Pentavalent Vaccine
before his/her first birthday?
If a child has received at least one dose of pentavalent
vaccine before his/her first birthday then the child
should be administered the due pentavalent doses at a
minimum interval of four weeks, at the earliest
available opportunity.
If a child comes unimmunized after completing 12
months of age, what vaccines would you give?
Three doses of DPT and OPV at intervals of four
weeks and a booster dose of DPT after six months are
to be administered. Also, measles vaccine and
Vitamin A solution with the first dose of dpt.
Such a child will not receive BCG, hepatitis B and
Pentavalent Vaccines.
What are the side effects of Pentavalent Vaccine?
Pentavalent Vaccine has not been associated with any
serious side effects. However, redness, swelling and pain
may occur at the site where the injection was given.
These symptoms usually appear the day after the
injection has been given and last from 1 to 3 days.
Less commonly, children may develop fever for a short
time after immunization.
Should Pentavalent Vaccine be given to a child coming
from a state which has not yet introduced Pentavalent
Vaccine in its UIP schedule?
Yes, Pentavalent Vaccine should be given to a child
irrespective of the state he/she comes from, provided the
child is less than 1 year of age and has not yet received any
dose of DPT vaccine.
