The Food and Drug Administration has approved the expanded use of Adacel (Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine Adsorbed) to include repeat vaccinations 8 years or more after the first vaccination in people aged 10-64 years.
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The expanded indication was based on results of a randomized, controlled trial, published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, in which more than 1,300 adults aged 18-64 years received either Adacel or a Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccine 8-12 years after receiving a previous dose of Adacel.
Over the course of the study, no significant difference in adverse event incidence was observed between groups. Injection-site reaction was the most common adverse event during the study, occurring in 87.7% of those who received Adacel and 88.0% of those who received the Td vaccine. Other common adverse events associated with Adacel include headache, body ache or muscle weakness, tiredness, muscle aches, and general discomfort.
“While strong vaccination programs are in place for young adolescents, a single Tdap immunization does not offer lifetime protection against pertussis due to waning immunity. The licensure of Adacel as the first Tdap vaccine in the U.S. for repeat vaccination is an important step for eligible patients and offers flexibility for health care providers to help manage their immunization schedules,” said David P. Greenberg, MD, regional medical head North America at Sanofi Pasteur, in the press release.
Find the full press release on the Sanofi website.