What is the Difference Between Penta and Hexa Vaccine?

The main difference between penta and hexa vaccines lies in the number of individual vaccines they contain and the diseases they protect against.

• Penta vaccine: This is a combination of five individual vaccines that protect against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B.
• Hexa vaccine: This is a combination of six individual vaccines that protect against six diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, Haemophilus B, and hepatitis B.

Both penta and hexa vaccines are used to immunize children against multiple childhood diseases. If a pentavalent vaccine is not readily available, a hexavalent vaccine can be administered to provide equivalent protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and Hib, but the child will not be fully protected against hepatitis B.

Some hexavalent vaccine formulations include Infanrix hexa, Vaxelis, Hexavac, Hexaxim, and Hexyon. There is no significant difference in the safety and efficacy of these vaccines. However, it is essential to use the correct vaccine and follow the appropriate vaccination schedule to ensure optimal protection against the targeted diseases.

Comparative Table: Penta vs Hexa Vaccine

Here is a table comparing the differences between Penta and Hexa vaccines:

Both Penta and Hexa vaccines provide protection against multiple diseases and are given to infants. They require booster doses and are intramuscular injections. The vaccines have similar storage requirements and common side effects such as redness, pain, and swelling around the injection site. The main difference between the two vaccines is that Penta vaccine is a combination of five individual vaccines, while Hexa vaccine is a combination of six individual vaccines, protecting against an additional disease (poliomyelitis).