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July 21, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“FDA Approves GSK’s Infanrix as Fifth Dose in DTaP Series”

Espicom Business Intelligence (www.espicom.com)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the combination vaccine Infanrix for diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis adsorbed (DTaP) from GlaxoSmithKline as a fifth consecutive DTaP vaccine dose for children between the ages of four and six years.  The FDA approval means that children can be administered all five doses of the DTaP vaccine with the same product, an option that is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Pediatricians, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.  Doctors may now administer Pediarix for the first three doses of the DTaP regimen and Infanrix for the last two doses of the series.