Kids' combination vaccines cut number of required shots

Advisory panel urges adding new vaccines to the schedule for children 2 months to 6 years.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. July 14, 2008.

The Food and Drug Administration in June approved a pair of vaccines that provide as many as five childhood immunizations in one shot. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices followed up on this action by recommending that the vaccines be incorporated into the regular immunization schedule.

The FDA gave the nod to Pentacel, the first five-component vaccine giving protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and haemophilus influenzae type b. Manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, it is intended to be administered in a four-dose series at 2, 4, 6 and 15-18 months. According to a company statement, this product could reduce the number of injections from 23 to 16 that children receive before they reach 18 months.

In addition, agency approval was given to Kinrix, a shot protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. This is intended to boost protection for children ages 4-6.

The ACIP also voted to include these preventives in the Vaccines for Children Program.

Physicians generally have welcomed combination vaccines, although reimbursement is frequently an issue when new shots are introduced. Record keeping also could be problematic, especially for children who do not have a medical home.