Journal article
Reducing Injection Pain during Vaccination and the Risk of Local Reactions and Abscesses
Reducing pain during vaccination is becoming increasingly relevant as more vaccines become available and two or more vaccines may need to be administered simultaneously.
While in some countries, up to four injectable vaccines have
been administered simultaneously for years (e.g., United States with DTaP, Hib, IPV and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine-PCV recommended at the same ages and often given as separate vaccines), most Latin American countries are only now starting to give multiple injections simultaneously. Oftentimes, pentavalent (DTP-Hib-Hep B) is given in one thigh and PCV in the other; when IPV gets more widely used, two injections will have to be administered in the same limb.
While there are no contraindications to administer vaccines simultaneously, or in the same limb if the injections are separated by about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch), mothers and health care workers are more and more concerned over the pain inflicted on the infant, and the potential for local reactions.
Authors
Languages
- English
Publication year
2013
Publisher
PAHO
Journal
Immunization Newsletter PAHO
Volume
3
Type
Journal article
Categories
- Service delivery
Tags
- AEFI
- Demand