Abstract
Ideally, combination vaccines should not only be safe and effective, but also integrate smoothly into the vaccination schedule and provide advantages over the use of separately administered vaccines. Pentacel™ (Sanofi Pasteur Ltd., Toronto, Canada), a combination vaccine first licensed in Canada and subsequently in other countries, is immunogenic against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b when administered at 2, 4, 6 and 15–18 months of age. In published studies, the safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness of this combination vaccine were comparable with those of separately administered vaccines, with the advantage of a simplified dosing schedule.