New Vaccine Combines Five Baby Shots

MADISON, Wis. -- A medical breakthrough spares children from several pokes of a needle -- thus, fewer tears at the doctor's office.

Pediarix combines five vaccines into one shot. The shot vaccinates children for polio, diphtheria, hepatitis B, pertussis and tetanus. The combination of vaccines still requires three injections, given at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, but that's still an improvement over previous vaccines.

Public health nurse Jill Aruguete said bracing for the needle that you know is going to hurt is tough on kids, even kids who have been poked many times before.

"It's hard," said Aruguete. "When somebody's got to get four or five shots, boy, that's really tough."

Cheryl Robinson, the nursing supervisor at the Madison Public Health Department, said it's a big benefit to reduce the number of injections for infants.

"I think anything that can be done to decrease the number of shots for babies is really good," Robinson said.

Using the new vaccine will cut down the number of shots from 15 to 11 in a child's first year.

"I hope that before too long, we'll really be down to one or two shots at all ages instead of the five that it has been at some ages," said Robinson.

Pediarix was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December. The vaccine is available at some private clinics.

"Our hope is that the easier we make it for the babies and for the parents, the easier it becomes for the parents to bring their kids in on time," Robinson said.

Robinson said that the improvement in vaccines is slow because so much testing is required.

"They have to run it through the testing process and make sure they're safe and effective and that they really work as well together as they work separately," Robinson said.

The screaming and crying will still happen, but at least the scene will be repeated fewer times because of the new wonder shot. But the CDC reports that children who have gotten the vaccine develop low-grade fevers more often than with the previous vaccines.

The cost of the new vaccine is about the same as the previous vaccines.

Previous Stories:

• June 18, 2003: Get Your Nose Ready For Flu Vaccine
• December 30, 2002: Breathable Vaccines May Replace Shots
• December 16, 2002: New Vaccine Combines Childhood Shots
• September 25, 2002: Flu Shots Recommended For Babies, Toddlers
• June 12, 2002: Study: MMR Vaccine Doesn't Make Kids Sick
• May 16, 2002: FDA Approves New Version Of DTaP Vaccine