Safety and immunogenicity of a measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine given with combined Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate/hepatitis B vaccines and combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccines.

BACKGROUND: A study was conducted to assess administration of a combination measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine (MMRV) with other childhood vaccines.

METHODS: In this open, multicenter trial, 1915 healthy children ages 12-15 months were randomized into 3 groups: group 1, MMRV, combined Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate-hepatitis B vaccines (Hib/HepB) and combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccines (DTaP) concomitantly; group 2, MMRV followed by Hib/HepB and DTaP 42 days later; group 3, MMR and varicella vaccine followed by Hib/HepB and DTaP 42 days later.

RESULTS: Antibody responses to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, Hib, HepB, diphtheria and tetanus were similar between groups 1 and 2 (all >95%, except varicella, 89.7% in group 1 and 90.9% in group 2). Pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin responses were significantly lower in group 1 than in group 2 (group 1, 74.1 and 67.1%; group 2, 90.4 and 86.8%, respectively). An exploratory analysis suggested that the difference in and pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin responses was likely the result of study design rather than interference among vaccine components because the groups differed in age of receipt of DTaP (group 1, approximately 12 months; group 2, approximately 13.5 months). When the groups were matched for age, sample size was sufficient for comparison only in children > or =13.5 months old. Pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin responses were similar in these children. The safety profiles for each vaccination regimen were comparable.

CONCLUSIONS: The immunogenicity data support concomitant administration of MMRV with Hib/HepB. Limited data from an exploratory analysis indicate that MMRV can be administered concomitantly with DTaP. Concomitant administration of MMRV, Hib/HepB and DTaP is well-tolerated.