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Apr 22 2025
2Combining multiple vaccines into a single injection is emerging as a promising strategy to improve immunization outcomes while reducing the number of shots children must endure. This approach not only strengthens immune responses but also makes vaccination less distressing for infants, parents, and healthcare workers alike.
“Vaccines are incredibly effective tools for protecting children from serious diseases,” said Helen Bedford, a child health expert at University College London. “But the challenge is that the more vaccines we have, the more injections babies need in a short time—this can be very distressing.”
Combination vaccines, which protect against multiple pathogens with one shot, offer a solution. A historical example is the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, first introduced in 1948. Today, the development of such combined immunizations continues, with scientists carefully evaluating which vaccines can work synergistically.
“When you vaccinate someone, you’re activating their immune system,” explained Rama Rao Amara, a vaccine researcher at Emory University. “It’s crucial to ensure that vaccine combinations don’t overstimulate or interfere with one another.”
Early in development, researchers assess the individual antigens in vaccines—such as proteins, inactivated toxins, or nucleic acids—and the type of immune response they provoke. They also examine whether one vaccine’s effects might suppress or enhance another. For example, certain vaccines trigger cytokine production that can inhibit viruses used as delivery vehicles in other vaccines, like the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covishield shot.
Yet, some combinations improve effectiveness. During the rollout of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, doctors recommended administering them with flu shots. Studies showed that individuals receiving both vaccines at the same time had strong, prolonged antibody responses to COVID-19 without reducing flu immunity.
This encouraging outcome inspired the development of a combined COVID-19 and influenza vaccine. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated that the joint vaccine boosted responses to influenza A, though responses to influenza B were slightly reduced. According to Amara, adjuvants—ingredients added to enhance immune responses—used in the COVID-19 component also helped strengthen the flu vaccine’s impact.
Nucleic acid-based and protein-based vaccines, in particular, appear to complement each other well. One primes the immune system, and the other enhances the response, leading to stronger, longer-lasting protection.
While combination vaccines are thoroughly tested for safety, they can occasionally cause mild side effects like swelling or soreness at the injection site. Physicians may not always be able to identify which specific component caused the reaction.
Despite this, most parents prefer fewer injections per visit. In a survey conducted by Bedford, the majority said they would not want their child to receive more than two shots in one appointment.
Beyond convenience, combination vaccines can also address disparities in vaccine access. “In remote or underserved areas, it’s hard for families to make repeated clinic visits,” Bedford noted. “Fewer visits mean more children get protected.”
In short, combining vaccines doesn’t just mean fewer tears—it means broader, more effective protection for children worldwide.
Source:https://www.the-scientist.com/why-are-some-vaccines-better-together-72923
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
