WebMD is reporting the FDA approval of a new five-in-one vaccine. This is great news as it will mean fewer shots are needed to protect babies and toddlers from potentially dangerous or fatal infections.
The vaccine is named Pentacel and it’s the first combination vaccine to protect children against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infections. Hib infections include meningitis and pneumonia.
My Take?
No doubt that parents and pediatricians are cheering. Simply put, this will reduce the stress (to both) of well-baby visits.
Pentacel vaccine will help simplify the immunization schedule by reducing the number of injections infants and young children will receive in their first 2 years of life.
Pentacel’s approval came after results of a study involving more than 5,000 children in the U.S. and Canada showed that the vaccine was safe and effective. 
The study compared Pentacel to several vaccines, some of which guard against one disease (such as the polio vaccine) and others that prevent more than one disease (such as the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine).
The most common side effects were redness at the injection site, swelling, tenderness, and fever.