It is one of the compulsory vaccinations in our country and groups up vaccines against six diseases that may have very serious consequences in a single vial. Let’s find out which and in how many doses the administration takes place
The hexavalent vaccine is among the vaccinations scheduled for children during the first year of age. The term “hexavalent” indicates that through a single injection it is possible to obtain protection against Six different diseases. In this way the vaccination is simplified, since the number of injections for the child decreases, the annoyance that these entail and also the number of times that parents must go to the pediatrician or the vaccination center.
What is the hexavalent vaccine
The hexavalent vaccine is a combined vaccine, that is, it groups in a single vial six different vaccines that protect from:
- diphtheria;
- tetanus;
- pertussis;
- poliomielite;
- hepatitis B;
- Invasive disease from haemophilus influenzae type B.
These are diseases that may have very serious consequences, in particular if contracted in the first months of life.
There diphtheria It is a disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diptheriaewhich can infect the upper airways (or more rarely the skin) and release a toxin capable of damaging the fabrics. The bacterium is transmitted by air through the respiratory droplets (cough, sneezing) or more rarely through contact with objects contaminated by the secretions of a patient.
Dipterite manifests itself with sore throat, fever and the appearance of a grayish membrane on the surface of the tonsils and throat. The severity of the disease depends on the spread of toxin, and the possible complications concern the respiratory system, the heart, the kidneys and the nervous system.
The tetanus It is an acute non -contagious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium Tetania bacillo that grows only in the absence of oxygen (i.e. it is anaerobio), and is present in nature both in vegetative form (that is, it is able to reproduce) and in the form of spore. The bacterium in vegetative form produces an extremely powerful and toxic toxin for central nervous system cells.
Tetano is not transmitted from person to person. The contagion generally takes place through the penetration of the spores contained in the ground through a wound; In the absence of oxygen, spores can be transformed into vegetative forms, which produce toxin. Toxin acts on the cells of the nervous system, interfering with the adjustment of the activity of the muscles and causing contractions and spasms. The risk of death is high and depends on the timeliness with which the treatment is undertaken.
There pertussis It is a very contagious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordella Pertussis. The contagion takes place by air, through droplets of saliva spread in the air when the patient counts. The bacterium of Pertosse causes airways infections and the disease is characterized by a very intense (paroxysmal) and long -lasting cough. In the newborn and in children under one year, pertussis can be very serious and in some cases fatal.
There polio It is a serious highly contagious infectious disease caused by a virus. The contagion takes place mainly by gold-fecal, through the ingestion of water or contaminated foods. In some cases, the Poliomielite virus damages the cells of the nervous system, causing muscle paralysis. The Polio virus was completely eradicated on the European continent in 2002, but still circulates in some geographical areas of the world.
THE’hepatitis B It is a viral disease that mainly affects the liver. It is transmitted from the mother to the newborn during childbirth in the event that the woman came previously in contact – through sexual intercourse or tools contaminated with infected blood (needles, syringes) – with blood and other body fluids of sick people or healthy carriers. In addition to the acute liver infection, the hepatitis virus can cause chronic infection, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. These risks are higher when the infection affects small children.
THE’Haemophilus influenzae It is a bacterium that can cause airways infections and, especially in children under the age of 5, can spread to other organs giving rise to the so -called “invasive disease” in the form of pneumonia, meningitis (if it affects the central nervous system) or sepsis (generalized infection). This bacterium is also transmitted through the respiratory droplets and often infected people without these manifesting any symptoms (in this case, we are talking about healthy carriers).
What does the hexavalent understand?
The hexavalent vaccine contains The so -called “antigens”, necessary to stimulate the response of the immune system against the six diseases.
In the case of the vaccines against pertussis, polio, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae, the antigens are represented by fragments of viruses or bacteria, while in the case of antidifterica and anti -stick it is the toxin produced by these bacteria which has been made completely harmless.
In addition to the antigens, the vaccine contains aluminum salts, which make the response from the immune system more effective and are therefore defined as “adjuvants”, and other excipients used as preservatives.
Is the hexavalent vaccine mandatory?
Yes, the hexavalent vaccine is mandatory in Italy, the decision not to vaccinate their child involves the impossibility of enrollment in services and kindergartens, as well as pecuniary penalties for parents.
The obligation concerns both the primary cycle of three doses, to be carried out during the first year of life, both the calls of the DIFTIRITE-TEAN-TEP-POLIOMIELITE VACCINES envisaged between 5 and 6 years and in adolescence.
When is the hexavalent vaccine?
The hexavalent vaccine provides for the administration of three doses during the first year of life. The first dose is administered in the child between 60 and 90 days of age, the second dose of hexavalent is administered in the fifth month, while the third dose of hexavalent in the eleventh.
The administration of the vaccine takes place intramuscularly, with a small puncture in the thigh, and generally, in the same seat, the anti -pneumococcal vaccine is also administered (with a second puncture in another point of the body).
Esavalent vaccine: the call when you do?
In addition to the three doses of the primary cycle, calls are expected for four of the vaccines present In the hexavalent, or diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, as immunity has no long duration.
The first call is foreseen between 5 and 6 years of age, together with the vaccine against measles-parotitis-rosolia-vary. The second call, however, takes place in adolescence after 12 years. These calls also include mandatory vaccines.
The vaccine against hepatitis B does not require calls because the protection against infection has a long duration, while for the haemophilus influenzae there are no references because the risks of invasive disease mainly concern children under the age of one year (or subjects with the deficit of the immune system).
In adulthood, references to the vaccine against diphtheria-tetano-tapesti every 10 years are recommended and this same vaccination is recommended for pregnant women, between the 27th and 32nd week of gestation.
Esavalent vaccine: contraindications and side effects
When it comes to Esavalent vaccine reactions We mean the light and short -lived side effects that appear after administration. The most frequent are local and concern redness, pain and swelling in the area where the injection was carried out.
A little bit of fever after the hexavalent vaccinegenerally in the 24 hours following the administration and for the duration of one to two days.
The hexavalent vaccine can also cause drowsinessdecrease in appetite and vomiting. The manifestations of inconsolable crying are less frequent.
Serious reactions to the hexavalent vaccine are instead very rare: in five cases a convulsions may appear on one million, while the risk of an anaphylactic reaction (serious allergy) is even lower, in the order of a case per million.
The hexavalent vaccine is contraindicated in those who have had a serious allergic reaction on the occasion of a previous administration or towards one of the components of the vaccine.
The presence of an acute disease at the time of vaccination can represent a temporary contraindication. The need to postpone the vaccination will be decided by the vaccinator.
Esavalent vaccine: the risks
Is the hexavalent vaccine dangerous? Like any drug, even the hexavalent vaccine is not exempt from possible contraindications. As already mentioned, however, the side effects are generally short -lived and spontaneously resolve within a few days, serious reactions are very rare and vaccination benefits far exceed the risks.
In the case of anaphylactic shock, a very serious and potentially fatal event, there are consolidated procedures to intervene promptly and prevent there are consequences.
On the other hand, permanent or long -term damage directly associated with the hexavalent vaccine are not documented.
Are you vaccines in a single dose are you sure?
Before being able to put a combined vaccine on the market it is necessary to document through clinical studies that the safety and effectiveness of the combination are comparable to those of the separate administrations of the individual vaccines.
This also happened in the case of the exavalent: the available studies indicate that There are no differences in the effectiveness and frequency and severity of the side effects between the two options (combined vaccine and separate vaccines).
There are those who fear that the immune system can be overloaded by the presence of too many antigens, but this is a concern that is not founded, because the child’s body at birth and in the first months of life is exposed to contact with an extremely high number of antigens never met before.
The possibility of administering more vaccines at the same time on a single occasion is an advantage first of all for the baby, as reduces injections and therefore pain and stressand for the whole family unit, since the number of vaccination sessions decreases.
