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Is it better to split up vaccinations or give them all in one go?
Giving MenB vaccines alongside routine childhood immunisations may lower the likelihood of side effects, according to new research.
MenB vaccines are less likely to cause side effects when given with other vaccines, according to a new study.
A study of more than 10,000 infants has found giving a meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine alongside other routine immunisations may reduce the likelihood of side effects.
Research published in The Medical Journal of Australia has compared reported adverse events from infants who received MenB and National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines during the same appointment, compared to those who received them on separate occasions.
Notably, at the two-month immunisation stage, infants who received MenB and routine NIP vaccines at the same visit were less likely to experience an adverse event (29%) than those who received the vaccines separately (35%).
Similarly, at 12 months, rates of adverse events were also slightly lower among infants who received the vaccines at the same visit (47%) compared with those who received the vaccines separately (52%).
In response, Dr Rodney Pearce, a GP and Immunisation Coalition Chair, said ‘vaccines are better in arms, than in fridges’.
‘This really reaffirms it’s better to get the vaccines in and don’t be too worried about multiple vaccines,’ he told newsGP.
‘The main thing is that there’s no decrease in the effectiveness if we mix the vaccines.
‘The good news is that there doesn’t seem to be any more side effects when you mix or add extra vaccines.’
Paediatrician and the study’s lead author Dr Lucy Deng said that when GPs are discussing infant vaccination with parents and carers, one of the first questions they are often asked is whether spreading vaccines out across multiple visits will reduce the chance of side effects.
‘Our study provides reassuring real-world evidence that MenB can and should be safely given alongside routine childhood vaccines,’ she said.
Dr Deng also highlighted some additional benefits of giving vaccines together, such as fewer appointments for families, less time away from work and childcare, and lower travel and healthcare costs.
‘Our study shows families can get these benefits without compromising safety,’ she said.
‘Immunisation providers can feel confident recommending MenB and routine childhood vaccines be given at the same visit.’
Dr Deng also advised that giving vaccines concurrently reduces the risk of children falling behind schedule if later appointments are delayed or missed.
The findings come at a time when funded MenB vaccinations are becoming more widely available through programs across Australia.
Although rare, MenB is the leading cause of invasive meningococcal disease in Australia, accounting for more than 80% of all reported cases nationally.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends all infants and children aged less than two years receive the MenB vaccine, which is given as a 2- or 3-dose course, depending on the age at which vaccination begins.
Dr Pearce welcomed the positive findings of the study and advised GPs to check their own state guidelines regarding MenB vaccination.
‘It’s good to reassure people,’ he said.
‘The NIP is a really good program – it makes us one of the best in the world when we’re getting supported to do it.’
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