One great part about visiting the doctor when you’re little? Getting stickers! One of the ickier parts? Getting shots. But in a child’s first year of life, and then on through their first several years, a lot of routine physicals do involve getting a shot. These immunizations are incredibly important because they help children gain immunity to—in other words, to become protected from—serious disease. Thankfully, combination vaccines mean fewer shots and fewer tears.
What are combination vaccines?
Combination vaccines are essentially a bundled set of immunizations. It means that two or more vaccines that could be administered separately have been put into one shot. A child who receives a combination vaccine will then develop immunity and be protected from diseases in the same way that they would be if the shots were administered separately.
Some examples of common combination vaccines that are given in childhood (and the diseases they protect against) include:
- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis) + HepB (Hepatitis B) + IPV (Inactivated polio virus)
- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis) + Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B) + IPV (Inactivated polio virus)
- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis) + IPV (Inactivated polio virus)
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) + Var (Varicella or Chicken Pox)
It’s worth noting that the DTaP and MMR vaccines listed above are each one vaccine that protects against multiple diseases. The DTaP vaccine protects against Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis, and the MMR vaccine protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. Additional combination vaccines are available in other countries, so it’s always possible that in the future – more options will become available to decrease the number of total shots required.
What are the benefits?
Because combination vaccines allow for more than one vaccine to be administered in a single shot, that means you can get a lot of protection from serious disease in a single shot. The simplicity and ease of fewer shots also often means that it’s easier to stick with the recommended vaccination schedule, which allows children to be protected as early as possible from disease. Another major benefit for little ones? Combination shots amount to fewer shots, fewer ouchies, and fewer tears.
Are there any side effects?
Combination vaccines are safe. They go through the same thorough testing process that individual vaccines do to ensure that they are safe. And the recommended vaccine schedule for infants and children takes into account when it’s safe for certain vaccines to be administered separately and in combination. So if Baby is receiving either individual or combination vaccines on the recommended timeline, you can rest assured that those vaccines have been vetted.
Any side effects a child experiences from combination vaccines will likely be mild and similar to what they might experience with individual vaccines. Studies even show that some combination vaccines cause less injection site soreness. It’s worth noting that the MMRV is more likely to cause a fever in children ages 12-23 months. And while this is a known side-effect of vaccination, it’s why you may be offered separate MMR and varicella vaccines at age one.
Fewer shots, more stickers
Fewer shots—and fewer tears—are typically appreciated by both kids and parents. Combination vaccines are a great tool to help Baby stay protected against serious disease, while also allowing healthcare provider visits to go just a little more smoothly. And extra stickers always seem to help too! But if you have any questions about immunizations or combination vaccines, be sure to ask your child’s health care provider.
Sources
- “Are Combination Vaccines Safe?” Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, April 20 2015. Retrieved February 12 2020. https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/video/are-combination-vaccines-safe
- “Combination Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Department of Health and Human Services. July 2, 2024 https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-children/about/combination-vaccines.html
- “Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella (MMRV) Vaccine Safety.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Department of Health and Human Services. July 31, 2024 https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmrv.html
