A NEW
FULLY LIQUID DTAP-IPV-HIB-HB HEXAVALENT COMBINATION VACCINE
Luc Hessel M.D.
Aventis Pasteur MSD, Lyon, France
To reduce the number of injections
needed to comply with pediatric vaccination requirements, a liquid, hexavalent
vaccine (DTacP-IPV-PRP-T-HBs; Hexavac; Aventis Pasteur MSD)
has been developed for primary and booster vaccination of infants. In extensive
clinical studies, Hexavac has been shown to be highly immunogenic.
Seroconversion or seroprotective titers of antibodies against all antigens were
achieved in the majority of infants following a primary series of three doses
administered at 1-2 month
intervals from 2 months of age. Hexavac also induced immunologic memory, as
evidenced by the strong anamnestic response to booster vaccination at 12-18 months of age. These responses
were comparable with those seen following concomitant administration of
Pentavac and H-B-Vax II, and were also within the ranges observed for other
relevant licensed vaccines. Clinical studies comparing the immunogenicity of
Hexavac administered at either 2, 3 and 4 or 2, 4 and 6 months demonstrated
that it can be used by either vaccination schedule. A further study also
supported the use of primary doses of Hexavac at 3 and 5 months with a booster
at 12 months of age. Hexavac has a good reactogenicity and tolerability
profile. The most frequently reported adverse events after both primary and
booster doses were local reactions of redness and swelling/induration and a
systemic response of mild fever, irrespective of the vaccine used for priming.
Hexavac therefore represents an ideal opportunity to provide protection against
six important childhood diseases with a single injection at each clinic visit.