Pentavalent Vaccine | What diseases does the Pentavalent vaccine prevent?

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What is a Pentavalent vaccine?

Pentavalent vaccine is a type of children’s vaccine that protects against five types of diseases. These diseases include diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, tetanus, pneumonia, meningitis, etc. This vaccine is usually given to infants between one to three and a half months of age and not given to children beyond one year of age. As you know, many types of vaccines are given to children to protect against diseases; similarly, a pentavalent vaccine is also included. However, at first, only rich people could afford this vaccine, and poor people couldn’t, so the Government of India started a campaign in which the Pentavalent vaccine is given free of cost in all government hospitals. The pentavalent vaccine has reduced the risk of certain diseases such as diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, tetanus, pneumonia, meningitis in infants. Let us explain in detail about the Pentavalent vaccine in today’s article.

• What diseases does the Pentavalent vaccine prevent?
• When is the Pentavalent vaccine given?
• What are the side effects of the Pentavalent vaccine? 
• Which children cannot be given the Pentavalent vaccine? 
• What is the Cost of the Pentavalent Vaccine in India?

What diseases does the Pentavalent vaccine prevent?

Pentavalent vaccine is said to be a vaccine that protects against five diseases. Doctors have prepared this vaccine to protect children from five diseases. Let us explain further.

• Diphtheria – This disease can cause difficulty breathing, paralysis, and uncontrolled heart rate.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) – Pertussis is also called whooping cough. This disease is characterized by severe coughing because of which the child is unable to eat properly and may have difficulty breathing. Whooping cough may affect the infant’s brain and cause epilepsy. In some cases, the baby may die due to the complications.
• Hepatitis B – Hepatitis B is a type of infectious disease that can occur at any time to the baby. As you know, this infectious disease directly causes liver damage. Due to this, the baby has a fever, fatigue, and joint pain.
• Tetanus – Tetanus is a serious bacterial infection that affects the nervous system of the body. In this, the infant experiences painful muscle contractions, especially in the jaw muscles resulting in swallowing difficulties.
• Pneumonia – Pneumonia is an infection that directly affects the lungs. This infection can occur in the baby due to viral or bacterial attacks.(Read more – What is pneumonia)

When is the Pentavalent vaccine given? 

• The pentavalent vaccine is designed to protect children from problems such as diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, tetanus, pneumonia, meningitis. This vaccine is given to an infant who is one to three and a half months old. The exact age of vaccination is indicated.
• For example, the first dose is given at six weeks of age, the second dose is given at ten weeks old, and the third dose is given at fourteen weeks of age.
• In India, the infant can be vaccinated with the pentavalent vaccine within six months to one year of age.

What are the side effects of the Pentavalent vaccine? 

The pentavalent vaccine usually does not have any side effects, but in some cases, a severe reaction may occur. In many cases, severe side effects of the pentavalent vaccine have not been observed.

Common side effects of the pentavalent vaccine include.

• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Itching at the site of injection
• Restlessness
• Lump formation at the site of injection
• Swelling or redness at the site of injection
• Pain at site of injection(Read more – Why are polio vaccines given?)

Which children cannot be given the Pentavalent vaccine?

The pentavalent vaccine usually has no specific side effects, but children who have experienced a severe reaction after the first dose are not given another dose. Apart from this, children who do not experience any problem after vaccination are given the next dose. However, this vaccine is not given to children beyond one year of age; it is only given to young infants who are one to two and a half months old.(Read more – How to take care of the newborn baby)

What is the Cost of the Pentavalent Vaccine in India?

The price of the Pentavalent vaccine in India can range from around INR 1,000 to INR 1,200. However, there are many big hospitals in India where the price of the pentavalent vaccine may be slightly lower or higher. It is because this vaccine helps protect children from five diseases. However, in government hospitals, the pentavalent vaccine is given free of cost to children.(Read more – Measles and Rubella Vaccination)

We hope that we could answer your questions regarding the pentavalent vaccine through this article.

If you want more information about the Pentavalent vaccine, you can contact a good Child Specialist.

We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you good advice because no one else is better than them.

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