Few parents actually like their kids to get shots.
It isn’t that they are afraid of what’s in the shots or that they don’t recognize the benefits of vaccines.
It’s that shots can hurt, especially when you have to get multiple shots at one time.
Combination Vaccines
Today’s combination vaccines help to reduce the number of shots that kids have to get at each visit. No, they aren’t all combined into one shot yet, but they are greatly reduced.
Examples of combination vaccines include:
Comvax– combines Hib and Hep B (discontinued)- Kinrix – combines DTaP and IPV
- Quadracel – combines DTaP and IPV
MenHibrix– combines Hib-MenCY (discontinued)- Pediarix – combines DTaP, Hep B, and IPV
- Pentacel – combines DTaP, IPV, and Hib
- ProQuad – combines MMR and varicella
- Vaxelis – a new hexavalent vaccine that combines DTaP, IPV, Hib, and HepB into one shot
Combination vaccines are really nothing new though.
We have been using them since the individual vaccines for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus were combined into the DTP vaccine in 1949. And the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines were combined in 1971.
We don’t typically think of those as combination vaccines though, because you can’t get them separately anymore.
What to Know About Combination Vaccines
Combination vaccines can decrease the number of shots that your kids need to get at each visit to their pediatrician.