The measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine can safely be given at the same time as other childhood vaccines are administered, reported Dr. Henry Shinefield of the University of California, San Francisco, and his colleagues.
The researchers conducted an open, multicenter trial in which 1,779 healthy children aged 11–16 months were randomized into three groups. Group 1 received the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine (MMRV), the combined Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate-hepatitis B vaccine (HH), and the combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) at the same visit. Group 2 received the MMRV at the initial visit, followed by HH and DTaP 42 days later. Group 3 received separate MMR and varicella vaccines at the initial visit, followed by HH and DTaP 42 days later.
Overall, the antibody response rates and geometric mean antibody titers to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella were similar, regardless of whether MMRV was given at the same time as the other vaccines or 42 days earlier. When MMRV was given at the same time as HH and DTaP, the antibody response rates for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella were 97.8%, 95.4%, 98.6%, and 89.7%—higher than the previously established acceptability criteria.
Children who received all the vaccines at once were significantly more likely to report pain or tenderness at the injection site, compared with the other groups. Other safety results, including rates of fever, congestion, and cough, were comparable among the groups.
Dr. Shinefield has received an honorarium for preparing informational material for doctors about the MMRV vaccine ProQuad, and he is a member of the Merck Advisory Committee on Varicella and ProQuad.