It is very common for children to have to receive many vaccines, especially in their first years of life. We all know how important they are and the danger of not getting the right doses, especially the pentavalent vaccine. To give you an idea, diseases like rubella, measles, meningitis and poliomyelitis can be prevented just with the injections—just to name a few. Despite all their benefits, there are many vaccines, which means more pain for the baby and more stress for both mother and child. This is the context in which the pentavalent vaccine arises to solve this problem and improve how vaccines are administered. This is because this vaccine prevents several of these diseases at once, sparing mothers from having to take their children many times to hospitals and health centers and protecting babies from so many needle pricks.

ATTENTION: The pentavalent vaccine is not the only combined vaccine available, but it is probably the best known. Another popular combined vaccine is the hexavalent vaccine.

How Is the Pentavalent Vaccine Administered?

The pentavalent vaccine is usually given in three doses, with the first given to the baby at two months of age. The interval between each dose is 60 days. In addition, booster shots are given when the child is 15 months old and again between 4 and 6 years old. The pentavalent vaccine can be administered in both public and private hospitals.

Which Diseases Does the Pentavalent Vaccine Prevent?

The pentavalent vaccine is very important for the baby’s health because it prevents many diseases all at once. Without the vaccine, the child’s health is at serious risk of becoming fragile and problems may arise. The diseases that the pentavalent vaccine prevents are:

  • Diphtheria (Croup)
  • Tetanus
  • Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
  • Hepatitis B
  • Infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B

We will explain a bit more about each of these diseases and how the pentavalent vaccine helps prevent them.

Diphtheria (Croup)

Diphtheria is a disease caused by a bacillus called toxicogenic. It usually lodges in organs such as the tonsils, larynx, pharynx, nose, as well as other mucous regions of the body. Diphtheria, or croup, is a transmissible disease. In other words, it is passed from person to person through bacterial droplets expelled by coughing, spitting, or sneezing. A person who has not been vaccinated against this disease can catch it either from someone who is infected or from someone who is susceptible. The neck of an infected child may become swollen, and in severe cases, the disease can affect the heart and cause difficulty breathing.

Tetanus

Tetanus is a contagious disease, but it is not transmitted from person to person. This means that for someone to be infected with tetanus, they must be pricked by something—usually a metal object such as a nail, scissors, or rusted needle, or even dirty glass. The disease attacks the central nervous system, causing the muscles to stiffen and making it hard to move. The tetanus vaccine may also be given after serious injuries if it has been more than 10 years since the last dose.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Whooping cough is a disease that is also transmitted from person to person by droplets from coughing, sneezing, saliva, or other secretions. The disease causes severe coughing fits in children, lasting at least 21 days but potentially lasting for months, depending on severity. In addition to coughing fits, difficulty breathing with a loud sound and vomiting may also occur.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a disease that can be transmitted by several types of body secretions such as blood, semen, and body fluids. The main problem with hepatitis B is how the body responds to the virus, because when it sends cells to fight it, this causes the liver to swell—the worst symptom for people with the virus. There is no treatment for this disease, which is why it is important for the vaccine to be taken correctly. Now that we know a little more about each of these diseases, we can better understand why the pentavalent vaccine is so important and why it has so many benefits for babies.

Contraindications for the Pentavalent Vaccine

The pentavalent vaccine is not recommended for children who have any type of allergy or hypersensitivity to the elements in the vaccine, as well as for children who, after the first dose, experienced any of the following symptoms: Fever above 39°C, convulsions, circulatory collapse, or encephalopathy within seven days after the previous dose of the vaccine.

Reactions to the Pentavalent Vaccine

Usually, children’s reactions to the pentavalent vaccine are mild, limited to redness at the injection site and a mild fever. There are, however, cases where more intense reactions occur, with a high fever lasting for just one day (it’s important to note that if the fever persists, you should see a doctor) and irritability in the child. Even these stronger reactions are considered normal, so there is nothing to worry about. These days, we live in a world where many diseases have already been eradicated or controlled by medicine, and simply vaccinating a child can protect them from many of them. Vaccinating children is essential for preventing various diseases. We know that it is not easy to take your children for shots all the time, and it becomes even harder with more children to care for. This is why the pentavalent vaccine is extremely useful to make our lives easier and help fight all these diseases at once. See also: Find Out When Your Baby Can Go Out for a Walk Photo: serrano1004