Combination Vaccines
Combination vaccines protect against two or more diseases at once in a single dose. Instead of receiving separate vaccines for each illness, a child or adult gets the same protection in one visit, with less time in the waiting room and fewer moments of anxiety.
The immune system handles combination vaccines the same way it handles individual vaccines; it is not overloaded by having to build immunity to multiple vaccines at once. These vaccines go through the same rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness as every other licensed vaccine, and many have been in use for decades. The MMR vaccine, for example, has protected children against measles, mumps, and rubella with a single dose since the 1970s. Today, some vaccines protect against as many as six diseases at once!
Combination vaccines make it easier to stay on schedule, helping keep your family protected.
Combination Vaccines for Infants and Young Children
DTaP
DTaP protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). The vaccine is given as a series starting at 2 months old and is one of the foundational vaccines recommended for all children.
MMRV
The MMRV vaccine combines MMR with varicella (chickenpox) to offer protection against all four diseases, and may be given to children 12 months to 12 years. The AAP does not express a preference between MMRV and giving MMR and varicella vaccine separately for the first dose; both are acceptable options.
Combination Vaccines for Adolescents and Adults
Tdap
Tdap is a booster vaccine offering protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. This vaccine is recommended at 11–12 years and for adults who haven’t received it. Adults are also recommended to receive a Tdap booster every ten years, or if they are around a newborn baby. All pregnant women should receive a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy to protect their newborns from whooping cough.
Td
The Td vaccine protects against tetanus and diphtheria. This combination vaccine is given as a routine tetanus booster every 10 years for some adults who have already received Tdap.
MenABCWY and MenACWY
MenABCWY protects against five meningococcal groups in a single vaccine, while MenACWY protects against four. The MenABCWY vaccine can be given in place of both MenACWY and MenB vaccines when they would be administered on the same clinical day.
Understanding Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Vaccines help parents protect their children from more than 16 serious diseases during infancy, childhood, and the teen years, with additional vaccines recommended in adulthood to maintain protection throughout life.
Vaccine-preventable diseases still pose a real risk to children and families. Some, such as the flu and whooping cough, are common in the United States and can spread easily in schools and communities. Others, like polio and measles, are now rare here but continue to circulate globally and can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and even death in people of all ages.
Immunization Schedules
To ensure that your family is up to date on their vaccines, view or download the immunization schedules and talk to your healthcare provider.
