| Combination of | |
|---|---|
| DTP vaccine | Vaccine |
| Hepatitis B vaccine | Vaccine |
| Haemophilus vaccine | Vaccine |
| Clinical data | |
| Trade names | Quintavax, Pentavac, Pentacel, others |
| Routes of administration | Intramuscular injection |
| ATC code | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number |
|
DTwP-HepB-Hib vaccine is a 5-in-1combination vaccine with five individualvaccines conjugated into one.[1] It protects againstdiphtheria,tetanus,whooping cough,hepatitis B andHaemophilus influenzaetype B,[1] which is generally used inmiddle- and low-income countries, where polio vaccine is given separately.[2][3]
By 2013, pentavalent vaccines accounted for 100% of theDTP-containing vaccines procured byUNICEF, which supplies vaccines to a large proportion of the world's children.[4]
During studies and tests, theconjugated liquidDTPw-HepB-Hib vaccine was found to have positive safety when given as abooster to young children who have been given a vaccination course with another pentavalent booster that requires a change in constitution and was also found to be adequatelyimmunogenic.[5]
In October 2004, theEuropean Medicines Agency granted marketing approval to the pentavalent vaccine Quintanrix, manufactured byGlaxoSmithKline.[6] Quintanrix was voluntarily withdrawn by the manufacturer in 2008.[7][8]
In September 2006, the first pentavalent vaccine formulation received pre-qualification approval from theWorld Health Organization.[9]
In 2012, UNICEF and the World Health Organization issued and recommended a joint statement to the Immunization Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,Government of India and other developing nations in separate documents about the use of pentavalent vaccines to protect against five of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable death in children.[10]
By 2013, pentavalent vaccines accounted for 100% of theDTP-containing vaccines procured by UNICEF, which supplies vaccines to a large proportion of the world's children.[4]
In 2014, South Sudan became the last of the 73GAVI-supported countries to introduce the five-in-one vaccine.[11]
In May 2010,Crucell N.V. announced a US$110 million award from UNICEF to supply its pentavalent pediatric vaccine Quinvaxem to the developing world.[12]
In November 2010, the public-private consortiumGAVI announced that the cost of the pentavalent vaccine for emerging-market countries had dropped below US$3.00 per dose.[13]
High-income countries tend to use alternative formulations using acellular pertussis (Pa), which has a more favourable profile of side-effects, rather than whole-cell pertussis components.[14][1] In Europe,hexavalent vaccines that also contain inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) are in wide use.[15]
In 2013, it was found that Pentavac PFS vaccines were being supplied with two different sets of packaging: One set with manufacturing and expiry dates was being provided toprivate hospitals, whereas the other set without manufacturing and expiry dates was being distributed togovernment hospitals.[17] It was later clarified that the undated vaccines were supplied by UNICEF and complied withIndian Law.[citation needed]
Sri Lanka introduced Quinvaxem in January 2008. Within three months, four reports of deaths and 24 reports of suspected hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes prompted regulatory attention and precautionary suspension of the initial vaccine lot. A subsequent death that occurred with the next lot in April 2009 led the authorities to suspend pentavalent vaccine use and resumeDTwP andhepatitis B vaccination. Following an investigation by independent national and international experts, the vaccine was reintroduced in 2010.[18]
Bhutan introduced Easyfive-TT in September 2009. The identification of five cases withencephalopathy and/ormeningoencephalitis shortly after pentavalent vaccination prompted the authorities to suspend vaccination on 23 October 2009. Subsequently, four additional serious cases related to vaccine administered prior to suspension were identified and investigated. After a comprehensive review by independent national and international experts, the vaccine was reintroduced in 2011.[18]
Between December 2012 and March 2013 nine deaths were reported inViet Nam of children who had recently received injections of the pentavalent vaccine Quinvaxem.[19]On 4 May 2013, the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam announced that use of Quinvaxem was suspended.[20]
After a review of the cases conducted by national experts together with staff from WHO and UNICEF and an independent clinician, no link with vaccination could be identified.[19] The fatalities reported in Viet Nam were attributed to coincidental health problems related in time but not related to the use of Quinvaxem, or cases for which the information available did not allow for a definite conclusion but there were no clinical signs that were consistent with the use of the vaccine. The WHO report emphasized that more than 400 million doses of Quinvaxem had been administered and that no fatal adverse event had ever been associated with Quinvaxem or similar vaccines.[20]
Following additional reports fromIndia, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan of a small number of seriousadverse events following immunization with pentavalent vaccines, the WHO asked a global panel of independent experts to review the safety of the vaccine. This review took place 12–13 June 2013 and concluded that no unusual reaction could be attributed to pentavalent vaccines.[21] On 20 June 2013, the Ministry of Health announced that Viet Nam would resume use of Quinvaxem.[18]
The reported events in these Asian nations caused public uncertainty regarding the use of pentavalent vaccines to spread to other developing nations.[22] In response to this, and a corresponding spread of inaccurate information about vaccine safety, theIndian Academy of Pediatrics released a statement in support of pentavalent vaccines.[23]
Common versions of pentavalent vaccines include Quinvaxem, Pentavac PFS, Easyfive TT, ComBE Five, Shan5, and Pentabio.[24][25]
| Vaccine | Manufacturer | Date pre-qualified by WHO[9] |
|---|---|---|
| Quinvaxem | Crucell[a] | 26 September 2006 |
| Pentavac PFS | Serum Institute of India | 23 June 2010 |
| Easyfive TT | Panacea Biotec | 2 October 2013[b] |
| ComBE Five | Biological E. Limited | 1 September 2011 |
| Shan5 | Shantha Biotechnics | 29 April 2014 |
| Pentabio | Bio Farma | 19 December 2014 |
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
