Combination Vaccines in Routine Childhood Immunization Programs — Worldwide, 2024

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Combination vaccines enhance health system efficiency and caregiver compliance by reducing the number of clinic visits and injections required for routine childhood immunization. What Is Added by This Report?: In 2024, eight types of combination vaccines were in use worldwide, grouped into two categories: diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccines (trivalent, quadrivalent, pentavalent, and hexavalent) and measles-containing vaccines (two bivalent types, trivalent, and quadrivalent). Pentavalent DTP-containing vaccines and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines were the most widely used globally, yet 15 countries still lacked any measles-containing combination vaccine. Significant coverage gaps and service drop-offs persisted in low-income countries in Africa and the Americas, reflecting economic disparities in access to advanced formulations such as hexavalent vaccines. What Are the Implications for Public Health Practice?: To align with Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), tailored strategies should integrate combination vaccines with strengthened primary healthcare delivery and sustainable financing mechanisms. This approach is essential for improving service continuity and reducing dropout rates in underperforming regions.