Pentacel is a 5 in 1 shot (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio and Haemophilus influenzae b conjugate vaccines) for infants and children 6 weeks through four years of age. (see Sanofi Pasteur product insert for recommended schedule and other indications).
- Vaccine Ingredients: Aluminum phosphate, polysorbate 80, sucrose, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, bovine serum albumin, 2-phenoxyethanol, MRC-5 cells (a line of normal human diploid cells), CMRL 1969 medium supplemented with calf serum, Medium 199 without calf serum, modified Mueller and Miller medium, neomycin, polymyxin B sulfate, modified Mueller’s growth medium, ammonium sulfate, modified Mueller-Miller casamino acid medium without beef heart infusion, Stainer-Scholte medium, casamino acids, dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin.
- Estimated Efficacy: Antibody responses to tetanus were tested one month following three doses of Pentacel at two, four, and six months. At this time, 98.8 percent of vaccine recipients were found to have blood antibody levels considered to be protective against diphtheria. Following a booster dose of Pentacel at 15-16 months, 100 percent of vaccine recipients were noted to have blood antibody levels considered protective against diphtheria.
- Use with Other Vaccines: In clinical trials, Pentacel was given with hepatitis B, pneumococcal, MMR or varicella vaccines. There is no information in the package insert about the safety or effectiveness of giving Pentacel simultaneously with inactivated or live influenza, rotavirus, or hepatitis A vaccines
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Pentacel. It is not known whether Pentacel can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproductive capacity. Pentacel has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or for impairment of fertility.
