Co-administration of vaccines: a focus on tetravalent Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella (MMRV) and meningococcal C conjugate vaccines

Abstract

Simultaneous administration of different vaccines is a strategy to increase the possibility to receive vaccines at appropriate age, safely and effectively, reducing the number of sessions and allowing a more acceptable integration of new vaccines into National Immunization Programs (NIPs). Co-administration can be performed when there are specific indications in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) of the vaccines; but, in absence of these indications, the practice is possible if there are no specific contraindications nor scientific evidence to discourage simultaneous administration. The aim of this work is to review the safety and efficacy of co-administration of the tetravalent measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) and the meningococcal C (Men C) conjugate vaccines after 12 months of age. Several studies demonstrated that MMRV and Men C conjugate vaccines can be administered concomitantly without a negative impact on the safety and immunogenicity of either vaccines, inducing highly immunogenic responses.

Acceptance of COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Co-Administration: Insights from a Representative Italian Survey

“…From the point of view of public health, co-administration strategies have several advantages; these, however, are less obvious to laypeople, and communication on the matter may lead to some challenges regarding acceptance. The main public concerns may be the belief that too many vaccines overload the immune system, may be less effective than the same vaccines administered at different time points and may cause a higher number of adverse reactions [25]. It should also be borne in mind that concomitant COVID-19/SIV immunization is a novel recommendation/practice and that even the medical community is not very familiar with this approach.…”

Re-examining Vaccine Staggering Within Hesitancy Frameworks

“…From a clinical standpoint, the relationship between immunity and temporally concentrated administration of vaccine in both adult and pediatric populations remain understudied. Although reports from the laboratory suggest altered immune response with fewer concurrent vaccines provided ( 5 ), this may not translate to clinical practice where coadministration of at least some vaccines has not shown any decreased immune response ( 6 ). Consequently, the possible utility of vaccine staggering, or lack thereof, is not properly understood.…”

COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Vaccination: Cross-Protection, Co-Administration, Combination Vaccines, and Hesitancy

“…From the point of view of hesitancy, vaccine co-administration or combination vaccines may encounter additional challenges, owing to misconceptions regarding their efficacy and safety. Specifically, laypeople may believe that that too many vaccines/antigens overload the immune system, may be less effective than the same vaccines administered alone, or may be more reactogenic [ 74 ]. Data from the pediatric population, which is the main target for both combination vaccines and vaccine co-administration, suggest that vaccine-hesitant caregivers are less favorable toward combination vaccines and vaccine co-administration [ 75 ].…”