Review on immunogenicity, safety and social value of combined vaccines for children used both at home and abroad

Abstract

Combined vaccines contain two or more antigens. Research suggested that combined vaccines could prevent multi diseases and reduce the frequency of vaccination. This article focus on combined vaccines for children used both at home and abroad, such as diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine (DTaP), measles-rubella-mumps vaccine (MMR), etc. and summarizes their immunogenicity, safety and social values, including benefits to families, vaccination workers and health services, to provide evidence for promoting the research, development and use of combined vaccines in China. We found that combined vaccines can not only ensure the immunogenicity and safety, but also give convenient and lower cost vaccination to families, and using combined vaccines can improve the work efficiency of vaccination workers, reduce the impact of the epidemic on immunization services and improve vaccination coverage and timeliness. At present, the promotion of combined vaccines in China is restricted by many technical bottlenecks, high prices, and low awareness among people. It is recommended that research on the safety, effectiveness and health economics of combined vaccines should be strengthened, and the value of combined vaccines should be scientifically evaluated; the public's awareness and trust in combined vaccines should be enhanced, as well as the development and application of multi-linked multivalent vaccines should be promoted. The government should improve regulations to assist the development and application of combined vaccines.