Benefits Of 6-In-1 Vaccine

There are a lot of responsibilities associated with the birth of a newborn. It may make a parent nervous and jittery. Keeping all the responsibilities in their kitty, the vaccine is at the top to protect their newborn from various infectious diseases. Vaccination for babies is known to be an effective way to protect the child from these infectious diseases and one such effective vaccination is the 6-in-1 vaccine. 

What Is a 6-In-1 Vaccine?¹

Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends vaccination against 6 diseases is a must for babies. A 6-in-1 vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects the baby against six diseases. This means that your child will have less pain and discomfort as you would not need separate vaccination for each of these 6 diseases. While the child receives lesser injection pricks, the level of protection the 6-in-1 vaccine gives is similar to the one from separate vaccinations. 

A 6-in-1 vaccine protects against the following six serious diseases

• Diphtheria

• Hepatitis B

• Hib (Haemophilus Influenza Type B)

• Polio

• Tetanus

• Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

There is no live germ in this vaccine, so it cannot cause any of the diseases it is intended to prevent². A 6-in-1 vaccine is used all over the world because they are more convenient and cause less pain.

When Is The 6-In-1 Vaccine Given?

Babies are susceptible to these serious diseases from birth, so it is important to provide them with protection as early as possible. As per ACVIP* recommendations: 

• Vaccine is given to babies when they're 6, 10, and 14 weeks old. 

• They need 3 doses to make sure they develop a strong immunity to the conditions the vaccine protects against. 

• Every time another dose of the vaccine is given, your baby's immune response increases. 

*ACVIP 2020-2021- Advisory Committee on vaccines & immunization

What are the benefits Of 6- In-1 Combination Vaccine?³

A 6-in-1 vaccine has been helpful in simplifying the current immunization schedules. Giving a child multiple vaccines at the same time together has some advantages. 

With vaccination as your first decision in infant care, combination vaccines can benefit both parents and child in the following ways:

• Fewer chances of missing the vaccinations, as it covers 6 diseases in one go

• Fewer injection pricks for the baby 

• A reduction in the discomfort and pain caused by multiple injections

• Fewer trips to the Pediatrician 

• Fewer Doctor's appointments mean lower out-of-pocket expenses for parents

What are the side effects of 6-in-1 Combination vaccine? 

The adverse effects caused by combination vaccines are comparable to those caused by individual vaccines when they are administered separately. It is possible for the area where the combination vaccine was administered to experience discomfort or swelling. If your child received the injections separately, however, it is possible that he or she could experience pain or swelling in not just one but two or three different locations. Notify your child’s pediatrician if any vaccine your child receives causes adverse effects that are mild, moderate, or severe.

However, there are few side effects associated with the 6-in-1 vaccine. The most common side effects include⁴:

• High temperature (seen mainly after the second and third doses)

• Loss of appetite

• Injection site pain

• Injection site tenderness

• Injection site swelling

• Injection site redness

• Irritability

• Fever

• Restlessness

• Vomiting

Rare side effects can include the following:

• Occasionally, the 6-in-1 vaccine might cause side effects such as very high-pitched screaming, as well as fits or seizures.

• After receiving the 6-in-1 vaccine, a baby may very rarely have anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction.

What If I Missed Routine Immunization For My Child?

It is possible for your child to “catch up” on their vaccinations, even if they were not administered at the recommended intervals. It is possible for the “catch-up” doses and scheduling to differ, depending on the individual's age as well as their history of vaccinations. Your primary care physician or the practice nurse will provide you with guidance on this matter. Please consult your child's Pediatrician for further information.

Disclaimer - The information in this article is issued in public interest by Sanofi Healthcare India Pvt Ltd. with the intention to create general awareness around immunization including combination vaccines for children. This information does not constitute any medical advice, opinion and/or recommendation / or promotion of Sanofi products and should not be used as a substitute for professional pediatric advice. Please consult your child's doctor for details regarding immunization. 
 

References 

1- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/6-in-1-infant-vaccine/

2-  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/6-in-1-infant-vaccine/

3 - https://patient.info/childrens-health/immunisation/dtap-polio-and-hib-immunisation

4- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12564784/