Food and Drug Administration Approval of a Fifth Acellular Pertussis Vaccine for Use Among Infants and Young Children

On May 14, 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use an additional combined diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) (DAPTACEL™ Aventis Pasteur, Ltd. [Toronto, Ontario]) for the first 4 doses of the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccination (DTP) series administered to infants and children aged 6 weeks--6 years (before seventh birthday). DAPTACEL™ is the fifth acellular pertussis vaccine to be licensed for use among infants and young children in the United States. Of these five, three (Tripedia®, Infanrix™, and DAPTACEL™) are distributed in the United States.