FDA Licenses Two New Pediatric Combination Vaccines

FP Expert Weighs Pros, Cons of Combination Vaccine Products By Barbara Bittner FDA officials approved the licensure of two new combination vaccines for children last month. Both vaccines protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio; one of them also protects against invasive disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib. The move further raises the tally of combination vaccine products available on the U.S. market, and one FP expert AAFP News Now consulted says he harbors mixed feelings about that prospect. Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed and inactivated poliovirus vaccine, or DTaP-IPV, was approved for use in children ages 4-6 years on June 24. A single dose of the vaccine, marketed as Kinrix, is indicated for active immunization against... [read full story]