Why some vaccines are given together?

[Ratchet]

I am looking for info on why vaccines are given together- I know some are for convenience and some are considered to be more effective if given together, but for example with the TDAP- why can't you just get a pertussis vaccine?  I know you can get plain Tetanus, but not diptheria vaccine?  The CDC pink book is not helpful here- this sounds like something Dr Sears probably answers but I don't have that book.

Thanks!

[slmommy]

DTaP and MMR pretty much always come together now. I believe I've read it is becoming harder to get just T or dT, as with the pertussis outbreaks in recent years, they want to have as many people covered as possible, (adults it's Tdap). Many people who have reacted to DTP or DTaP prefer to get just T or dT since it's usually the P part that caused the reaction. I don't really know why there is no just Pertussis vaccine, I read it was developed in the 1930's but then combined with DT in the 1940's. Not sure there.

They used to make separate Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, but the official line is that they are not cost effective to produce separately.

I don't have a link or proof, but I don't buy that, they stopped making MMR separate recently, as parent interest in spreading those shots out was really rising. I think it was just another way to force the hand more on 100% vax compliance on 100% schedule, (but I'm biased!!)

[emmy526]

Originally Posted by Ratchet 

I am looking for info on why vaccines are given together- I know some are for convenience and some are considered to be more effective if given together, but for example with the TDAP- why can't you just get a pertussis vaccine?  I know you can get plain Tetanus, but not diptheria vaccine?  The CDC pink book is not helpful here- this sounds like something Dr Sears probably answers but I don't have that book.

Thanks!

maybe the cost is too much to produce it for the little profit it would probably generate...altho i would think in this day and age, you could order it made in a lab, then have the serum sent to the dr for injection.