What is the combination of vaccines in the pentavalent (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b) vaccine?

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Pentavalent Vaccine Composition

The pentavalent vaccine combines five vaccines into a single formulation: diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis (DTaP), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate, and hepatitis B (HepB). 1, 2

Detailed Components of Pentavalent Vaccine

The pentavalent vaccine contains:

  • Diphtheria toxoid - Provides immunity against diphtheria
  • Tetanus toxoid - Provides immunity against tetanus
  • Acellular pertussis antigens - Provides immunity against whooping cough
  • Hepatitis B surface antigen - Provides immunity against hepatitis B virus
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate - Provides immunity against Hib disease

Available Pentavalent Vaccine Formulations

As of 2020, there were two pentavalent combination vaccines licensed for use in the infant vaccine series in the United States 1:

  1. DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix) - Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline

    • Contains diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, and inactivated poliovirus
    • Licensed for use in children aged 6 weeks through 6 years

  2. DTaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel) - Manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur

    • Contains diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliovirus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate
    • Licensed for use in children aged 6 weeks through 4 years
    • Supplied as a two-component product: DTaP-IPV component as a liquid and Hib component as a lyophilized powder that requires reconstitution 2

Clinical Considerations

  • Pentavalent vaccines reduce the number of injections required, improving vaccination coverage rates and compliance 1, 2
  • The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) generally prefers combination vaccines over separate injections of equivalent component vaccines 1
  • These vaccines can be administered as early as 6 weeks of age as part of the routine childhood immunization schedule 1
  • Pentavalent vaccines have demonstrated comparable immunogenicity to separately administered component vaccines 2

Important Considerations

  • The pentavalent vaccines should not be used for booster doses at age 4-6 years 2
  • A higher rate of fever may be observed with combination vaccines compared to individual component vaccines, though rates of fever-related medical events remain similar 1
  • The vaccines can be administered simultaneously with other childhood vaccines without compromising immunogenicity or safety 2

Newer Developments

In 2018, a hexavalent vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) was approved, which contains all components of the pentavalent vaccine plus inactivated poliovirus, offering protection against six diseases with a single injection 1.

The pentavalent vaccine has significantly improved childhood immunization programs by reducing the number of injections needed while maintaining effective protection against multiple serious infectious diseases.

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

2
Guideline

Vaccination Guidelines for Pentacel

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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