Tetramune was a combination vaccine designed to protect young children from several serious bacterial diseases. It provided immunity against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). This vaccine aimed to simplify the immunization schedule by combining multiple antigens into a single injection, reducing the number of shots a child needed.
Diseases Tetramune Targeted
Tetramune protected against four serious bacterial diseases:
Diphtheria: A severe infection causing breathing difficulties, heart failure, and nerve damage.
Tetanus (lockjaw): Causes painful muscle spasms and can interfere with breathing.
Pertussis (whooping cough): A highly contagious respiratory illness, dangerous for infants, potentially leading to pneumonia, seizures, and brain damage.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib): A bacterium that can cause life-threatening conditions like meningitis, epiglottitis, and pneumonia.
How Tetramune Was Administered
Tetramune was administered to children via injection into the upper arm or upper thigh. The recommended schedule involved a series of doses during infancy. It was given at 2, 4, 6, and then either 15 or 18 months of age. This approach aimed to establish robust immunity against the targeted diseases early in a child’s life.
Potential Side Effects
Tetramune could cause common mild side effects. Children might experience redness, warmth, swelling, or pain at the injection site, beginning within three days of vaccination. A small, firm lump could also appear at the injection site for several weeks. Other reactions included a mild fever, irritability, increased sleepiness, occasional vomiting, reduced appetite, diarrhea, or symptoms similar to a common cold, resolving within one to seven days.
Why Tetramune Is No Longer Used and Its Replacements
Tetramune is no longer in use today, primarily due to the development of newer combination vaccines that offer broader protection or improved safety profiles. The original pertussis component in Tetramune was a whole-cell pertussis vaccine (wP), which was associated with a higher rate of mild side effects compared to newer acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines.
Modern combination vaccines have replaced Tetramune, providing protection against the same diseases and often more, with fewer injections. For instance, DTaP-Hib vaccines combine diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis with Hib. Other widely used combination vaccines include Pentacel, which protects against DTaP, Hib, and inactivated poliovirus (IPV). Pediarix and Kinrix are additional options; Pediarix covers DTaP, hepatitis B, and IPV, while Kinrix combines DTaP and IPV. Infanrix Hexa offers even broader coverage, including DTaP, hepatitis B, IPV, and Hib.