The future of childhood immunizations: examining the European experience

Abstract

Background: New pediatric combination vaccines that protect against multiple diseases are being introduced into clinical practice in the United States. Similar vaccines have been used extensively throughout Europe and other parts of the world for the past few years.

Objective: The objective of this article is to comment on the use in Europe of pediatric combination vaccines that protect against multiple diseases to predict their acceptance and use in the United States.

Results: Throughout Europe, combination vaccines that safely and effectively protect against multiple diseases have been well received, are widely used, and have helped greatly to simplify pediatric immunization schedules. In Germany, for example, the use of hexavalent combination vaccines has simplified the immunization schedule so that infants now receive a maximum of 2 injections per office visit, compared with the up to 5 injections per visit that infants may receive in the United States. Because of the many advantages and wide acceptance of combination vaccines in Europe, it is anticipated that similar vaccines will be readily accepted in the United States.

Conclusions: As demonstrated in Europe and elsewhere, combination vaccines are an efficient means of simplifying the pediatric immunization schedule, and the new combination vaccines being introduced in the United States are expected to be well received.