ADACEL vaccine licensed for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis

The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted unanimously to recommend licensure of the ADACEL vaccine for protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis in adolescents and adults aged 11-64 years.

A products of sanofi pasteur, the vaccines business of the sanofi-aventis group, ADACEL is the first booster to address pertussis protection across a wide age range.

The number of reported cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, continues to rise at a rate of great concern to the public health and medical communities. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received 19,000 case reports for 2004, nearly a 40% increase over 2003 and the highest number in four decades, although studies indicate that the actual number of cases is likely to be significantly higher.

Approximately two thirds of all cases occur in adolescents and adults, where it is often thought of as relatively mild, although many sufferers in these age groups can experience prolonged coughing, vomiting, and various complications. Due to similarities of symptoms, pertussis may initially be mistaken for other viral illnesses, such as bronchitis, influenza, or even the common cold. It is within the first two weeks, often before a noticeable cough develops, when pertussis is most contagious.

Additionally, pertussis is easily transmitted to non-immunized or partially immunized infants and young children, who are more vulnerable to serious complications or death.

The ADACEL vaccine is currently licensed and marketed in Canada and Germany.