Six-Component Combined Vaccine Application

The six-component karma vaccine program is a new vaccination initiative that came into effect on 14 April 2025, in accordance with an update to Türkiye’s childhood immunization schedule. Under this revision, the previously separate pentavalent combined vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine have been consolidated into a single injection.

^{Representative image of the six-component combined vaccine – Image generated by artificial intelligence.}

The first administration of the six-component combined vaccine took place on 14 April at the Çayyolu Education Family Health Center in the Çankaya district of Ankara. The event was attended by Minister of Health Professor Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, Director General of the General Directorate of Health People Associate Professor Dr. Muhammad Emin Demirkol, and Ankara Provincial Health Director Specialist Dr. Ali Niyazi Kurtcebe. In his remarks on the initiative, Minister Memişoğlu stated: “We are now adding the hepatitis B vaccine to our existing pentavalent vaccine, which already provides protection against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, child polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b influenza type.”

The new vaccine provides protection against the following six diseases:

• Diphtheria
• Pertussis
• Tetanus
• Polio (Poliomyelitis)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Hepatitis B

The six-component combined vaccine has been incorporated into the National Childhood Immunization Schedule. According to this schedule, the vaccine will be administered in four doses at the end of the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 18th months. The first dose of hepatitis B vaccine, administered immediately after birth, will continue as before, but subsequent doses will be covered by this combined vaccine. In a statement by the Ministry of Health, “Thus, our combined vaccine has been included in the program to protect against six diseases, in line with the recommendation of our advisory board,” place was made.

Vaccines are distributed by the Ministry of Health and are provided free of charge at all Family Health Centers and other relevant health facilities across Türkiye. Children who began their vaccination series with the previous five-component combined vaccine will complete their series with the new six-component vaccine. The six-component combined vaccine targets individuals during infancy and early childhood.

^{Altı bileşenli karma aşının ilk uygulaması nedeniyle düzenlenen programda Sağlık Bakanı Kemal Memişoğlu, 14 Nisan 2025, Çankaya Çayyolu Eğitim Aile Sağlığı Merkezi - Anadolu Ajansı}

At the event introducing the program, Minister of Health Memişoğlu made the following remarks regarding the role of vaccines in public health:

“Thanks to vaccines today, humanity is able to combat infectious diseases far more easily. Our life expectancy has increased. The primary reason we no longer see polio or diphtheria around us, and why flower has disappeared from the world, is vaccines.” He also emphasized the importance of the public following the guidance of health professionals, stating: “We expect our society, especially, to adhere to vaccination programs in accordance with the recommendations of our doctors, nurses and health workers.” movement