Pentavalent vaccine

A Pentavalent vaccine is five individual vaccines conjugated in one intended to actively protect infant children from 5 potentially deadly diseases: Haemophilus Influenza type B (the bacteria that causes meningitis, pneumonia and otitis), Whooping Cough (or Pertussis), Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Diphtheria. During studies and tests, the conjugated liquid DTPw-HepB-Hib vaccine was found to have positive safety when administered as a booster to toddlers who have been given a vaccination course with another pentavalent booster that requires a change in constitution and was also found to be adequately immunogenic.

The most widely administered Pentavalent vaccine globally - Quinvaxem has been administered to 400 million children as of 2013. This was after Crucell had procured an order worth US$ 110 million (in 2010) from UNICEF for the distribution of the Quinvaxem vaccine for free to many of the developing nations. Apart from Quinvaxem (DTwP), other major Pentavalent vaccines available include Pentavac PFS, Easyfive and Pentaxim (DTaP).

Quinvaxem
In March 2006, the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) awarded Quinvaxem the rights to distribution and sale. The vaccine was being developed and manufactured by Crucell in Korea and was co-produced by Chiron Corporation (that was eventually purchased by Novartis International AG on April 20, 2006), which provides four out of the five vaccine elements in bulk.

Pentavac PFS
Pentavac PFS is the Pentavalent vaccine manufactured in India by Pune-based pharmaceutical company Serum Institute of India and remains the lowest cost pentavalent vaccine in India.

Easyfive TT
Produced by Panacea Biotec, Easyfive was removed from the WHO's list of pre-approved and prequalified vaccines in mid-2011. Thereafter, in September 2013, WHO re-approved Easyfive after a positive result in the re-evaluation of the vaccine.

In India
Late 2013, it was found that the Pentavalent vaccine manufacturer - The Serum Institute in India was distributing 2 sets of Pentavac PFS vaccines for administration. One set with manufacturing and expiry dates was being provided to private hospitals, while the other set without manufacturing and expiry dates was being distributed to government hospitals. It was later clarified that the dates not appearing on one set of vaccines did not contravene any regulations as they were supplied by UNICEF and was legal under Rule 94 applicable to exports under Indian Law.

In Vietnam
The pentavalent vaccine Quinvaxem was suspended by the Vietnamese Health Ministry in May 2013 following increasing public concern after an increase in the number of adverse events post-vaccination, including the deaths of several young infants within a few days of receiving the vaccine. However, the vaccine was declared safe to use after public investigations showed that the fatalities reported in Vietnam were either coincidental health problems related in time but not related to the use of the pentavalent vaccine, or cases for which the information available does not allow for a definite conclusion. Thereafter, the WHO also released an online FAQ for Quinvaxem and its proper use, resulting in the use of the vaccine being re-instated for the National Extended Vaccination program post October 2013, nearly five months after its suspension. Since Quinvaxem was first used in Vietnam in 2007, an estimated 63 children have died post vaccination; a total of 4.5 million doses are administered annually throughout the country.