Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella vaccine co-administered with pneumococcal vaccine safe
TUESDAY, Nov. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Concomitant administration of a combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine (MMRV) and pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) is immunogenic and safe for healthy 12- to 15-month-old children, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in Pediatrics.
Michael Leonardi, M.D., from Palmetto Pediatrics in North Charleston, S.C., and colleagues assessed the immunogenecity and safety of MMRV administered concomitantly with PCV-7 conjugate vaccine in healthy children aged 12 to 15 months. A total of 1,027 children, who lacked vaccination and clinical histories for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and zoster, but had received a three-dose primary series of PCV-7, were randomized to receive either MMRV and PCV-7 (group 1), PCV-7 followed six weeks later by MMRV (group 2), or MMRV followed six weeks later by PCV-7 (group 3), in a 2:1:1 ratio. Primary safety was analyzed at 56 days (28 days after each visit), and immunogenicity evaluation was carried out six weeks after each vaccination.
The investigators found that all three groups showed an antibody response rate of ≥88.0 percent for varicella-zoster virus; ≥98.3 percent for all seven Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes; and ≥96.8 percent for measles, mumps and rubella. Similar immune responses were observed to all antigens present in MMRV and PCV-7, irrespective of whether the vaccine was administered concomitantly or sequentially. The incidence of local and systemic adverse experiences (AEs) in group 1 was comparable to groups 2 and 3 combined, with no vaccine-related serious AEs.
"Concomitant administration of the MMRV and PCV-7 is highly immunogenic and generally well tolerated," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to Merck and Co., which funded the study.
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