Overview
- Historical background: Combination vaccines have been used since 1945, beginning with the trivalent influenza vaccine.
- Vaccine composition: They combine either different serotypes of one microorganism (e.g., influenza or pneumococcal vaccines) or different microorganisms (e.g., DTP combinations).
- Development challenges: Potential chemical and physical interactions, unpredictable immunological interactions, increased adverse events in some cases, higher likelihood of production failures, and reduced vaccination program flexibility.
- Pediatric cornerstone: Since the mid-1990s, DTaP- and DTwP-based combinations have become central to pediatric vaccination programs worldwide.
- Live vaccine combinations: These include MR, MMR, MMRV combinations as well as trivalent oral polio vaccine (OPV).
- Traveler vaccines: Combination vaccines for travelers include HAV–HBV and HAV–Ty vaccines.
- Global availability: Dozens of diverse combination vaccine products are licensed globally, some tailored to specific local needs.
- Public health benefits: Combination vaccines increase acceptance, completion, and compliance, simplify logistics, reduce administration errors, decrease medical visits, and lower costs for individuals and society.
