HCM CITY — The pentavalent vaccine ComBe Five will be included in the national expanded immunisation programme by the end of this month, replacing the Korean-made Quinvaxem, according to the National Institute of Hygiene Epidemiology.

The 5-in-1 vaccine ComBe Five is produced by India’s vaccine manufacturer Biological E. Ltd. The vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B (Hib).

The National Expanded Vaccination Project has received 550,000 doses of ComBe Five vaccine which will be allocated to medical clinics nationwide by the end of this month, said Đặng Đức Anh, director of the institute.

The project will receive more ComBe Five vaccines by January to meet the demand of 450,000 doses of  pentavalent vaccine supplied to the national expanded immunisation programme every month, Anh said at a workshop held on Thursday in HCM City.

“We affirm that the safety of pentavalent vaccine ComBe Five has been evaluated and meets the quality standard,” he said.

ComBE Five received the World Health Organization’s pre-qualification approval. More  than 400 million doses of pentavalent vaccine ComBe Five have been administered to children in 43 countries and territories.

In May 2017, pentavalent vaccine ComBe Five received a license from Việt Nam’s Ministry of Health, according to the institute.

Since October this year, ComBe Five vaccines have been administered to more than 17,300 children in the provinces of Hà Nam, Bắc Giang, Yên Bái, Kon Tum, Bình Định, Đồng Tháp and Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu.

Most children had minor side effects following immunisation, except for three children who had severe reactions, including a high temperature, seizures, and trouble breathing. They were closely administered and quickly treated.

The National Expanded Vaccination Project targets having immunisation coverage of pentavalent vaccine ComBe Five to at least 95 per cent of all children in the country. — VNS