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DTaP-IPV vaccine available in US for children aged 4 to 6 years

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Sanofi Pasteur announced that Quadracel (DTaP and Inactivated Poliovirus) vaccine is now an available, FDA-approved immunization to combat diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis in children aged 4 to 6 years, according to a recent press release.

“Far too many children remain undervaccinated against serious diseases like pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenza type b disease,” David P. Greenberg, MD, Sanofi Pasteur associate vice president and regional medical head North America, said in the release. “We are committed to helping protect more children by making vaccination as easy and convenient as possible for parents and health care providers.”

In 2015, a CDC report showed vaccination coverage dropped 11% between the third and fourth dose of DTaP, and a 12% drop between the primary and full series of Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib). CDC recommends children aged 4 through 6 years receive the fifth dose of the DTaP vaccine and the fourth dose of IPV vaccine to protect from life-threatening diseases.

“The availability of Quadracel is a step in this direction,” Greenberg added.

With Quadracel vaccine, children will receive both vaccines in a single shot. In children who started with Pentacel (DTaP-IPV/Hib) vaccine, given as a 4-dose series to children aged 6 weeks to 4 years, adding Quadracel may help improve vaccination coverage for children aged up to 6 years.

“Reducing the number of vaccine injections in a multi-dose series can mean more than just convenience,” Michael J. Smith, MD, MSCE, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, said in the release. “According to the CDC, it can also lead to shockingly fewer vaccines — which helps facilitate process standardization — increased staff efficiency and prevention of administration errors.” – by Savannah Demko

References:

CDC. Vaccination Coverage Among Children Aged 19 – 35 Months – United States, 2015. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6539a4.htm. Accessed February 1, 2017.

CDC. 2016 Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth Through 6 Years Old. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf. Accessed February 1, 2017.

Disclosure: Greenberg is an employee of Sanofi Pasteur.