The 5-in-1 vaccine, also known as the DTaP/IPV/Hib vaccine, is one of the first vaccines that your baby will have. It's given as a single injection to boost your baby's protection against five different childhood diseases, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, and Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b).
The brand name of the 5-in-1 vaccine usually given in the UK is Pediacel.
Who should have the 5-in-1 vaccine?
The 5-in-1 vaccine is given on three separate occasions, when babies are two, three and four months old.
How effective is the 5-in-1 infant vaccine?
The 5-in-1 vaccine works well and produces very good immunity to diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib and polio infections.
How safe is the 5-in-1 vaccine?
The 5-in-1 vaccine is very safe. It's inactivated which means it doesn't contain any live organisms so there is no risk of your baby catching the diseases against which it protects.
The vaccine also has few side effects although it's common for babies to be a little irritable afterwards and have minor and short-lived redness and swelling at the injection site.