Simultaneous Administration of Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine With Booster Doses of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis and Poliovirus Vaccines

Abstract

The safety and efficacy of simultaneous administration of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), and trivalent oral poliovirus (OPV) vaccines in a test group of 405 children were compared with the safety and efficacy of sequential administration of the same vaccines in a control group of 410 children given MMR followed by booster doses of DTP and OPV 2 months later. The study was double blind and placebo controlled with respect to DTP and OPV. Seroconversion rates to measles, mumps, and rubella exceeded 96% in both groups. Geometric mean titers to measles (P = .05) and rubella (P = .004) were higher in the test group, and titers of antibodies to the other seven antigens were similar in both groups. Clinical reaction data were analyzed in 248 of 405 test children and 249 of 410 control children. The rates of serious vaccine-associated reactions were low and similar in the two groups. Some minor side effects were reported more frequently in the test group, but these differences were judged to be related to study design rather than to differences in the safety of the two vaccine schedules. The results indicate that the safety and serologic efficacy of administering MMR simultaneously with reinforcing doses of DTP and OPV in the second year of life is equivalent to the safety and efficacy observed after administering these antigens separately.

Hepatitis E vaccine—Illuminating the barriers to use

“…Studies of concomitant use are typically conducted when 2 vaccines are likely to be administered at the same time for programmatic efficiency. With only a few exceptions, seroconversion rates and adverse event frequency are not impacted by simultaneous administration of the most-commonly used live and inactivated vaccines [ 48 – 50 ]. One study has convincingly demonstrated that concomitant administration of Hecolin with another protein-based vaccine, hepatitis B, was both safe and did not adversely affect immune response to either vaccine [ 51 ].…”

Giving older adults a shot

“…With some exceptions, simultaneously administering the most widely used live and inactivated vaccines has produced seroconversion rates and rates for adverse reactions similar to those observed when the vaccines are administered separately (10)(11)(12)(13). Routine administration of all age-appropriate doses of vaccines simultaneously is recommended for children for whom no specific contraindications exist at the time of the visit.…”