Combination vaccines

Every vaccine involves a more or less painful prick. The first years of a child's life are the period of most intensive vaccination, so the number of pricks is the highest. However, the number of pricks can be reduced if parents choose combined (polyvalent) vaccines instead of vaccines that only immunize against one type of virus or bacteria (so-called monovalent). These contain different types of viruses or bacteria. One vaccination immunises against several diseases. The oldest '3-in-1' vaccine is the DTP, or diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, which has been used since the 1950s, and the MMR, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, which has been used since the 1970s. Nowadays, there are also "4-in-1" vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis (poliomyelitis), "5-in-1" Infanrix IPV Hib or Pentaxim - against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis and Haemophilus influenzae type B (the bacterium that causes meningitis, among other things), and the 6in1 Infanrix hexa or Hexacima vaccine for immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus influenzae type B and hepatitis B (source: www.szczepienia.pl/6w1/6-korzysci-jedna-decija#early, www.portal.abczdrowie.pl/przeciwko-jakim-chorobom-sa-aktywne-szczepionki-5w1-i-6w1).

When to vaccinate your child?

Every year, the Ministry of Health publishes a so-called 'vaccination calendar'. It lists the types of vaccines that a child must receive from birth until the age of 19. Thanks to the calendar, parents will not miss out on any of the vaccinations and will be able to administer them at the right time (some vaccines are only possible after the required age). The vaccination cycle consists of basic vaccinations and so-called booster doses. The first vaccination - against tuberculosis and hepatitis B - is given to the newborn in the hospital within 24 hours of birth. Subsequent vaccinations are administered at the clinic. Before each one, the child must be examined by a paediatrician (source: www.poradnikzdrowie.pl/zdrowie/choroby-zakazne/kalendarz-szczepien-na-rok-2017-szczepienia-obowiazkowe-2017_40219.htmla).

The obligatory vaccinations are paid for by the National Health Service. The vaccination calendar also includes so-called recommended vaccinations. These are paid for. Up to now, vaccination against, for example, pneumococci has been recommended. According to the regulation of the Minister of Health of 31 October 2016, from next year it will be mandatory for all children born after 31 December 2016 (source: http://www.forumginekologiczne.pl/wiadomosc/minister-zdrowia-podpisal-rozporzadzenie-w-sprawie-szczepien-przeciwko-pneumokokom/20849.html). Poland is the last country in Europe to introduce this vaccination into the mandatory vaccination calendar.

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Take consistent care of your child's health

If you are considering vaccinating your baby with a combined 6-in-1 vaccine, such as Infanrix hexa, it's a good idea to make this decision in the first weeks of your baby's life, that is at the beginning of the vaccination cycle. Paediatricians recommend that vaccination started with a given preparation should be completed with it.

One injection and so many benefits

One of the advantages of using combined vaccines is the reduction in the number of injections and, consequently, less pain and stress for the child and their relatives. It also means less frequent visits to the doctor. Contrary to the fears of some parents, these types of vaccines do not overload the immune system more than single vaccines, as they contain fewer antigens. In addition, the 6-in-1 combination vaccines Infanrix hexa and Hexacima contain 1 to 5 pertussis antigens, rather than 3000 like the DTPw vaccine (source: http://www.prawapacjenta.eu/?pId=887). As a result, they cause fewer post-vaccination reactions.

Thanks to the lower number of injections a child receives during a single visit to the clinic, it is additionally possible to give them other recommended preparations, such as against rotavirus or meningococcus (source: www.pg.gda.pl/chem/Katedry/Mikrobiologia/W-NS6.ppt). The combined vaccines 5in1 and 6in1 are paid for. 5in1 is only reimbursed by the National Health Service for premature babies. Let us hope, however, that in some time all children will be able to benefit from them free of charge.