Are Preservative-free Vaccines Better?

Hello everyone! As you might have already guessed, today I am going to share some information about preservative-free vaccines. Why this topic? If you remember in my last post on vaccination, I shared how you can choose the right vaccine for your child. I further found out that there are so many myths floating around in the digital space that we really can’t trust any source. Hence, whenever I am in doubt, I rely only on the word of a doctor.

Sometime back, a friend was in quandary. She was a new mom, just navigating the world of vaccines. And, there were so many opinions from people around her that she was confused. I told her to check online and also talk to her child’s paediatrician. She did a lot of research and came back beaming, telling me about these new preservative-free vaccines.

At that time, I didn’t go into much detail. Then, a few months ago, I got the opportunity to attend a digital meet up on vaccines. The session was taken by Dr. Gaurav Gupta who is a licensed paediatrician and specializes in vaccination. It was an eye-opener for me as Dr. Gaurav busted numerous myths revolving around vaccines. Additionally, he talked about preservative-free vaccines which made me understand this excellent option when it comes to vaccinating our children.

Whenever I talk to my friends I see that many of them are confused about the vaccines. Whether the vaccine would really protect their child and how. The information available online can sometimes confuse you, with no one to guide you. This online session cleared all my doubts, so I am sharing this very useful information.

The biggest myth related to vaccines is about their safety and efficacy.

Many parents believe that their babies might get the same disease the vaccine is supposed to prevent. This is not true. In fact, vaccines have reduced the impact of deadly diseases. Similarly, there are certain myths about the preservatives used in the vaccine.

Preservatives are added in the multi-dose inactivated vaccines to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. However, some studies raised concern due to the presence of mercury in preservative. Still, there is no evidence of harm caused by the presence of preservative in vaccines.¹

But with the advancement in technology and vaccination research, we now have preservative-free vaccines too. One of the most important vaccines administered in the first year is DTP which is now available in India as a hexavalent vaccine (preservative-free). And, it provides protection against 6 major childhood diseases. Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus Influenza B, and Hepatitis B.²

Isn’t this reassuring to us parents that vaccines are free of preservatives? Let’s look at why these vaccines can be better.

3 Reasons Why Preservative-free Vaccines are a better choice

1- Reduced administration time

Preservative-free vaccine such as 6-in-1 pediatric vaccine is fully liquid. And it comes in single-dose vials which means no reconstitution is required. Thus, reducing the administration time.³

2- No risk of contamination

When there is no need for reconstitution before administration, it further reduces the risk of contamination and error.

3- Safe and effective

DTaP-IPV-Hep B-HiB is the preservative-free combination vaccine which is also prequalified by the WHO. It consists of acellular Pertussis and inactivated poliovirus. This makes the vaccine both safe and effective.

When it comes to health-related decisions, it is always better to be aware and informed. I got a wealth of information and cleared all my doubts regarding the preservative-free vaccines. I am sure every mom out there would find it as useful as I did.

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References-

1- https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/thimerosal/index.html
2- https://www.sanofi.in/-/media/Project/One-Sanofi-Web/Websites/Asia-Pacific/Sanofi-IN/Home/Media/press-release/2016/Sanofi-Pasteur-launches-Indias-first-6-in-1-pediatric-vaccine–Hexaxim.pdf?la=en
3- https://www.indianpediatrics.net/jan2017/jan-11-13.htm
4- https://www.who.int/immunization/newsroom/thiomersal_questions_and_answers/en/

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Disclaimer: The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased views of solely the blogger/ third party This is a part of the public awareness initiative supported by Sanofi Pasteur India. Sanofi Pasteur bears no responsibility for the content of the blog. One should consult their healthcare provider for any health-related information.

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