Vaccine shortage delays immunisations

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BMJ 2001;323:418 ( 25 August )

News

Vaccine shortage delays immunisations

Deborah Josefson, San Francisco

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked doctors to delay giving children their last injection of the tetanus, pertussis, and diptheria (DTP) vaccine until they are 4 years old because of a nationwide shortage of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids in the United States (MMWR 2001;50:189-90.)

Ordinarily, the fourth injection is given between ages 15 and 18 months. The vaccine is in short supply because the pharmaceutical company Wyeth Lederle stopped producing tetanus and diphtheria toxoid last year, leaving Aventis Pasteur as the only US supplier.

The CDC is requesting that all routine tetanus boosters for adults and adolescents be delayed until April of 2002. Booster injections are normally given every 10 years.

Tetanus and diptheria toxoid should be reserved for those most at risk. These include pregnant women who have not been vaccinated with the toxoid within the previous 10 years; people travelling to countries where diphtheria is endemic; and those at high risk of wound infection (such as people with diabetes, those who have been burned or have frostbite, those with puncture and crush wounds, and immunocompromised patients); and those with wounds contaminated with dirt, faeces, soil, or saliva.

Aventis Pasteur has increased production of the toxoids to fill the need, but the manufacturing process takes at least 11 months. The company plans to have sufficient vaccine by early 2002 to supply the national demand.

© BMJ 2001
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.