In clinical trials involving the administration of 7918 doses of COMVAX (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) to 3561 healthy infants 6 weeks to 15 months of age, COMVAX (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) was generally well tolerated. In these studies, infants received COMVAX (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) with licensed pediatric vaccines (n=1745) or investigational vaccines (n=1816). Serious adverse experience data were available for all 3561 infants and non-serious adverse experience data were available for a subset of 1678 infants.

Pivotal Immunogenicity and Safety Study

In the pivotal, randomized, multicenter study, 882 infants were assigned in a 3:1 ratio to receive either COMVAX (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) or PedvaxHIB plus RECOMBIVAX HB at separate injection sites at 2, 4, and 12-15 months of age. Children may have also received routine pediatric immunizations. The children were monitored daily for five days after each injection for injection-site and systemic adverse experiences. During this time, adverse experiences in infants who received COMVAX (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) were generally similar in type and frequency to those observed in infants who received PedvaxHIB plus RECOMBIVAX HB.

The most frequently cited events were mild, transient signs and symptoms of inflammation at the injection site (i.e., pain/soreness, erythema, and swelling/induration), somnolence, and irritability, all of which were prompted for on report cards filled out by parents of vaccinated children. Table 3 summarizes the frequencies of injection-site and systemic adverse experiences within five days of vaccination that were reported among ≥ 1.0% of children in this pivotal trial.

Table 3: Local Reactions and Systemic Complaints Within 5 Days After Injection Reported to Occur in ≥ 1.0%^† of Children Given a 3-Dose Course of COMVAX (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) Compared to These Events in Children Given Concomitant Injections of PedvaxHIB and RECOMBIVAX HB

Infants Previously Vaccinated with Hepatitis B Vaccine

In a group of infants (N=126) given a three-dose course of COMVAX (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) after previously receiving a dose of Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant) at or shortly after birth, the type, frequency, and severity of adverse experiences did not appear to be greater than those observed in infants in the pivotal study who did not receive hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

Infants 6 Weeks to 15 Months of Age

In clinical trials, 3285 doses of COMVAX (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) were administered to 1678 infants who were monitored for injection-site and systemic adverse experiences from Days 0 to 5 after each injection of vaccine. Of these, 855 infants had safety data following vaccination at approximately 2 months of age, 836 infants at approximately 4 months of age and 1573 infants at 12 to 15 months of age. The most frequently reported adverse experiences ( ≥ 1% of subjects for at least one injection), without regard to causality are listed in decreasing order of frequency within each body system:

Injection Site Reactions: Pain/tenderness/soreness, swelling/induration, erythema; Body as a Whole: Fever; Digestive System: Anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting; Nervous System/Psychiatric: Irritability, somnolence, crying; Respiratory System: Upper respiratory infection, rhinorrhea, cough, rhinitis; Skin: Rash; Special Senses: Otitis media.

Post-Marketing Experience

As with any vaccine, there is the possibility that broad use of COMVAX (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) could reveal adverse experiences not observed in clinical trials. The following additional adverse reactions have been reported with the use of the marketed vaccine.

Hypersensitivity

Anaphylaxis, angioedema, urticaria, erythema multiforme

Hematologic

Thrombocytopenia

Nervous System

Seizure, febrile seizures

Potential Adverse Effects

In addition, a variety of adverse effects have been reported with marketed use of either PedvaxHIB or RECOMBIVAX HB in infants and children through 71 months of age. These adverse effects are listed below.

PedvaxHIB

Hematologic/Lymphatic

Lymphadenopathy

Skin

Sterile injection-site abscess; pain at the injection site

RECOMBIVAX

HB Hypersensitivity

Symptoms of hypersensitivity including reports of rash, pruritus, edema, arthralgia, dyspnea, hypotension, and ecchymoses

Cardiovascular System

Tachycardia; syncope

Digestive System

Elevation of liver enzymes

Hematologic

Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Musculoskeletal System

Arthritis

Nervous System

Bell's Palsy; Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Psychiatric/Behavioral

Agitation; somnolence; irritability

Skin

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome; alopecia

Special Senses

Conjunctivitis; visual disturbances

Adverse Event Reporting

Patients, parents and guardians should be instructed to report any serious adverse reactions to their health-care provider who in turn should report such events to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), 1-800-822-7967. The health-care provider should inform the parent or guardian of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP), 1-800-338-2382.

Read the Comvax (haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis b vaccine) Side Effects Center for a complete guide to possible side effects »

Deferral of immunization may be considered in individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/4/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.