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Lidocaine-prilocaine cream (EMLA) reduces the pain from minor procedures such as immunizations. There has been concern, however, that this topical anesthetic may also diminish immunogenicity from vaccines. Results of this manufacturer-funded Canadian study assure us that this fear is ill-founded -- at least for the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
A total of 160 infants (age, 12 months or older), who were scheduled to receive MMR vaccinations, were randomized to have either an EMLA patch or a placebo patch applied prior to their immunizations. The EMLA infants experienced significantly less pain after immunization, as measured on a validated pain scale, but the total postinjection pain scores and mean duration of crying did not differ be…