‘Pentavalent’-Shot the Challenge

Pentavalent vaccine, which is a combination vaccine administered in a three-dose schedule, offers protection against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT); hepatitis B and Haemophilus Influenzae type b. The vaccine is widely recommended by World Health Organisation and global alliance for vaccines and immunisation as a substitute for prevailing vaccination practices against the above-mentioned diseases and viruses. The vaccine has met with both positive and negative responses, which leads to challenges about the vaccine's safety, and the pros and cons of the vaccine were to be evaluated carefully and ultimately to replace the current hepatitis B and DPT primary vaccination schedule in the immunisation programme first dose in 6 weeks, second dose in 10 weeks and third dose in 14 weeks. In addition, hepatitis B birth dose will continue as before, in institutional birth within 24 h of birth before the same is added to routine immunisation schedule.