Federal panel OKs two combination vaccines

July 3, 2008

A federal advisory panel has endorsed two new combination vaccines designed to reduce the number of needle sticks children must endure to get the recommended immunizations.

The panel approved a four-in-one shot made by GlaxoSmithKline. It offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio, and costs $45. It's given once to preschool-age children.

The panel also endorsed Sanofi Pasteur's five-in-one shot for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and illness because of Haemophilus influenzae type b, or HiB. It costs about $69. Youngsters get four doses by age 2.

Both combination shots were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The combination shots don't change the recommended vaccine schedule, just the number of needle jabs needed.

The vaccine advisory panel approved the shots for the federal Vaccines for Children program, which pays for vaccinations for about 36 million children who are covered by Medicaid, are uninsured or meet other eligibility guidelines.

The panel's recommendations are also influential with private health insurers.

Associated Press