Malaysian
infants would have to receive nine
injections during the first few months of
life in order to be protected against
disease caused by
hepatitis B (HBV),
diphtheria ,
tetanus ,
pertussis and
Haemophilus influenzae type b (
Hib ) if single HBV and
Hib vaccines were used. We evaluated a combined DTPw-HBV/
Hib vaccine administered at 1.5, 3 and 5 months after a
birth dose of
hepatitis B vaccine (HBV). One month after completion of the primary
vaccination , 99% of subjects had seroprotective anti-HBV antibody levels, and at least 98% had seroprotective
antibodies against
diphtheria ,
tetanus , and
Hib , and were seropositive for
pertussis antibodies . The
immune response to the
combined vaccine was comparable to that induced by separate
injections with DTPw, HBV and
Hib vaccines . Overall, the DTPw-HBV/
Hib vaccine was as well tolerated as separate
administration of DTPw, HBV and
Hib vaccines . The combined DTPw-HBV/
Hib vaccine induces
protection against five
diseases as recommended in the Malaysian routine
vaccination schedule . Use of the combined DTPw-HBV/
Hib vaccine can reduce the required number of
injections from nine to four in the first few months of
life .