Mixed Sequences of Pentacel and DTaP Vaccine
While Pentacel and DAPTACEL (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed [DTaP], Sanofi Pasteur Limited) vaccines contain the same pertussis antigens, manufactured by the same process, Pentacel contains twice the amount of detoxified pertussis toxin (PT) and four times the amount of filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) as DAPTACEL. Pentacel may be used to complete the first 4 doses of the 5-dose DTaP series in infants and children who have received 1 or more doses of DAPTACEL and are also scheduled to receive the other antigens of Pentacel. However, data are not available on the safety and immunogenicity of such mixed sequences of Pentacel and DAPTACEL for successive doses of the primary DTaP series. Children who have completed a 4-dose series with Pentacel should receive a fifth dose of DTaP vaccine using DAPTACEL at 4-6 years of age. (1)
Data are not available on the safety and effectiveness of using mixed sequences of Pentacel and DTaP vaccine from different manufacturers.
Mixed Sequences of Pentacel and IPV Vaccine
Pentacel may be used in infants and children who have received 1 or more doses of another licensed IPV vaccine and are scheduled to receive the antigens of Pentacel. However, data are not available on the safety and immunogenicity of Pentacel in such infants and children.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that the final dose in the 4-dose IPV series be administered at age ≥4 years. (2) When Pentacel is administered at ages 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months, an additional booster dose of IPV vaccine should be administered at age 4-6 years, resulting in a 5-dose IPV series. (2)
Mixed Sequences of Pentacel and Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine
Pentacel may be used to complete the vaccination series in infants and children previously vaccinated with one or more doses of Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccine (either separately administered or as part of another combination vaccine), who are also scheduled to receive the other antigens of Pentacel. However, data are not available on the safety and immunogenicity of Pentacel in such infants and children. If different brands of Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccines are administered to complete the series, three primary immunizing doses are needed, followed by a booster dose.
Solicited Adverse Reactions
The incidence and severity of selected solicited injection site and systemic adverse reactions that occurred within 3 days following each dose of Pentacel or Control vaccines in Study P3T06 is shown in Table 2. Information on these reactions was recorded daily by parents or guardians on diary cards. In Table 2, injection site reactions are reported for the Pentacel and DAPTACEL injection sites.
Table 2: Number (Percentage) of Children with Selected Solicited Adverse Reactions by Severity Occurring within 0-3 days of Pentacel or Control Vaccines in Study P3T06| Injection Site Reactions | Pentacel | DAPTACEL |
Dose 1 N = 465-467 % | Dose 2 N = 451 % | Dose 3 N = 438-440 % | Dose 4 N = 387-396 % | Dose 1 N = 1,400-1,404 % | Dose 2 N = 1,358-1,359 % | Dose 3 N = 1,311-1,312 % | Dose 4 N = 376-380 % |
| Redness | | | | | | | | |
| >5 mm | 7.1 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 17.3 | 6.2 | 7.1 | 9.6 | 16.4 |
| >25 mm | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 9.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 7.9 |
| >50 mm | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2.4 |
| Swelling | | | | | | | | |
| >5 mm | 7.5 | 7.3 | 5.0 | 9.7 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 10.3 |
| >25 mm | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 4.0 |
| >50 mm | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.3 |
| Tenderness Any: Mild, Moderate or Severe; Mild: subject whimpers when site is touched; Moderate: subject cries when site is touched; Severe: subject cries when leg or arm is moved. | | | | | | | | |
| Any | 47.5 | 39.2 | 42.7 | 56.1 | 48.8 | 38.2 | 40.9 | 51.1 |
| Moderate or Severe | 19.6 | 10.6 | 11.6 | 16.7 | 20.7 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 15.8 |
| Severe | 5.4 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| Increase in Arm Circumference | | | | | | | | |
| >5 mm | | | | 33.6 | | | | 30.6 |
| >20 mm | – | – | – | 4.7 | – | – | – | 6.9 |
| >40 mm | | | | 0.5 | | | | 0.8 |
| Systemic Reactions | Pentacel | DAPTACEL + IPOL + ActHIB | DAPTACEL + ActHIB |
Dose 1 N = 466-467 % | Dose 2 N = 451-452 % | Dose 3 N = 435-440 % | Dose 4 N = 389-398 % | Dose 1 N = 1,390-1,406 % | Dose 2 N = 1,346-1,360 % | Dose 3 N = 1,301-1,312 % | Dose 4 N = 379-381 % |
| Fever Fever is based upon actual temperatures recorded with no adjustments to the measurement route. Following Doses 1-3 combined, the proportion of temperature measurements that were taken by axillary, rectal or other routes, or not recorded were 46.0%, 53.0%, 1.0%, and 0% respectively, for Pentacel vaccine and 44.8%, 54.0%, 1.0%, and 0.1%, respectively, for DAPTACEL + IPOL + ActHIB. Following Dose 4, the proportion of temperature measurements that were taken by axillary, rectal or other routes, or not recorded were 62.7%, 34.4%, 2.4% and 0.5%, respectively, for Pentacel vaccine, and 61.1%, 36.6%, 1.7% and 0.5%, respectively, for DAPTACEL + ActHIB. | | | | | | | | |
| ≥38.0°C | 5.8 | 10.9 | 16.3 | 13.4 | 9.3 | 16.1 | 15.8 | 8.7 |
| >38.5°C | 1.3 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 3.2 |
| >39.5°C | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Decreased Activity/Lethargy Moderate: interferes with or limits usual daily activity; Severe: disabling, not interested in usual daily activity. | | | | | | | | |
| Any | 45.8 | 32.7 | 32.5 | 24.1 | 51.1 | 37.4 | 33.2 | 24.1 |
| Moderate or Severe | 22.9 | 12.4 | 12.7 | 9.8 | 24.3 | 15.8 | 12.7 | 9.2 |
| Severe | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Inconsolable Crying | | | | | | | | |
| Any | 59.3 | 49.8 | 47.3 | 35.9 | 58.5 | 51.4 | 47.9 | 36.2 |
| ≥1 hour | 19.7 | 10.6 | 13.6 | 11.8 | 16.4 | 16.0 | 12.2 | 10.5 |
| >3 hours | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| Fussiness/Irritability | | | | | | | | |
| Any | 76.9 | 71.2 | 68.0 | 53.5 | 75.8 | 70.7 | 67.1 | 53.8 |
| ≥1 hour | 34.5 | 27.0 | 26.4 | 23.6 | 33.3 | 30.5 | 26.2 | 19.4 |
| >3 hours | 4.3 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
Hypotonic Hyporesponsive Episodes
In Study P3T06, the diary cards included questions pertaining to HHEs. In Studies 494-01, 494-03, and 5A9908, a question about the occurrence of fainting or change in mental status was asked during post-vaccination phone calls. Across these 4 studies, no HHEs, as defined in a report of a US Public Health Service workshop (4) were reported among participants who received Pentacel (N = 5,979), separately administered HCPDT + POLIOVAX + ActHIB (N = 1,032) or separately administered DAPTACEL + IPOL + ActHIB (N = 1,455). Hypotonia not fulfilling HHE criteria within 7 days following vaccination was reported in 4 participants after the administration of Pentacel (1 on the same day as the 1st dose; 3 on the same day as the 3rd dose) and in 1 participant after the administration of DAPTACEL + IPOL + ActHIB (4 days following the 1st dose).
Seizures
Across Studies 494-01, 494-03, 5A9908 and P3T06, a total of 8 participants experienced a seizure within 7 days following either Pentacel (4 participants; N = 4,197 for at least one of Doses 1-3; N = 5,033 for Dose 4), separately administered HCPDT + POLIOVAX + ActHIB (3 participants; N = 1,032 for at least one of Doses 1-3, N = 739 for Dose 4), separately administered DAPTACEL + IPOL + ActHIB (1 participant; N = 1,455 for at least one of Doses 1-3), or separately administered DAPTACEL + ActHIB (0 participants; N = 418 for Dose 4). Among the four participants who experienced a seizure within 7 days following Pentacel, one participant in Study 494-01 had an afebrile seizure 6 days after the first dose, one participant in Study 494-01 had a possible seizure the same day as the third dose, and two participants in Study 5A9908 had a febrile seizure 2 and 4 days, respectively, after the fourth dose. Among the four participants who experienced a seizure within 7 days following Control vaccines, one participant had an afebrile seizure the same day as the first dose of DAPTACEL + IPOL + ActHIB, one participant had an afebrile seizure the same day as the second dose of HCPDT + POLIOVAX + ActHIB, and two participants had a febrile seizure 6 and 7 days, respectively, after the fourth dose of HCPDT + POLIOVAX + ActHIB.
Serious Adverse Events
In Study P3T06, within 30 days following any of Doses 1-3 of Pentacel or Control vaccines, 19 of 484 (3.9%) participants who received Pentacel and 50 of 1,455 (3.4%) participants who received DAPTACEL + IPOL + ActHIB experienced a serious adverse event. Within 30 days following Dose 4 of Pentacel or Control vaccines, 5 of 431 (1.2%) participants who received Pentacel and 4 of 418 (1.0%) participants who received DAPTACEL + ActHIB experienced a serious adverse event. In Study 494-01, within 30 days following any of Doses 1-3 of Pentacel or Control vaccines, 23 of 2,506 (0.9%) participants who received Pentacel and 11 of 1,032 (1.1%) participants who received HCPDT + POLIOVAX + ActHIB experienced a serious adverse event. Within 30 days following Dose 4 of Pentacel or Control vaccines, 6 of 1,862 (0.3%) participants who received Pentacel and 2 of 739 (0.3%) participants who received HCPDT + POLIOVAX + ActHIB experienced a serious adverse event.
Across Studies 494-01, 494-03 and P3T06, within 30 days following any of Doses 1-3 of Pentacel or Control vaccines, overall, the most frequently reported serious adverse events were bronchiolitis, dehydration, pneumonia and gastroenteritis. Across Studies 494-01, 494-03, 5A9908 and P3T06, within 30 days following Dose 4 of Pentacel or Control vaccines, overall, the most frequently reported serious adverse events were dehydration, gastroenteritis, asthma, and pneumonia.
Across Studies 494-01, 494-03, 5A9908 and P3T06, two cases of encephalopathy were reported, both in participants who had received Pentacel (N = 5,979). One case occurred 30 days post-vaccination and was secondary to cardiac arrest following cardiac surgery. One infant who had onset of neurologic symptoms 8 days post-vaccination was subsequently found to have structural cerebral abnormalities and was diagnosed with congenital encephalopathy.
A total of 5 deaths occurred during Studies 494-01, 494-03, 5A9908 and P3T06: 4 in children who had received Pentacel (N = 5,979) and one in a participant who had received DAPTACEL + IPOL + ActHIB (N = 1,455). There were no deaths reported in children who received HCPDT + POLIOVAX + ActHIB (N = 1,032). Causes of death among children who received Pentacel were asphyxia due to suffocation, head trauma, Sudden Infant Death syndrome, and neuroblastoma (8, 23, 52 and 256 days post-vaccination, respectively). One participant with ependymoma died secondary to aspiration 222 days following DAPTACEL + IPOL + ActHIB.
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute toxin-mediated disease caused by toxigenic strains of C. diphtheriae. Protection against disease is due to the development of neutralizing antibodies to diphtheria toxin. A serum diphtheria antitoxin level of 0.01 IU/mL is the lowest level giving some degree of protection. Antitoxin levels of at least 0.1 IU/mL are generally regarded as protective. (11) Levels of 1.0 IU/mL have been associated with long-term protection. (12)
Tetanus
Tetanus is an acute disease caused by an extremely potent neurotoxin produced by C. tetani. Protection against disease is due to the development of neutralizing antibodies to tetanus toxin. A serum tetanus antitoxin level of at least 0.01 IU/mL, measured by neutralization assay is considered the minimum protective level. (11) (13) A tetanus antitoxoid level ≥0.1 IU/mL as measured by the ELISA used in clinical studies of Pentacel is considered protective.
Pertussis
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory disease caused by B. pertussis. This Gram-negative coccobacillus produces a variety of biologically active components, though their role in either the pathogenesis of, or immunity to, pertussis has not been clearly defined.
Poliomyelitis
Polioviruses, of which there are three serotypes (Types 1, 2, and 3) are enteroviruses. The presence of poliovirus type-specific neutralizing antibodies has been correlated with protection against poliomyelitis. (14)
Invasive Disease Due to H. influenzae Type b
H. influenzae type b can cause invasive disease such as meningitis and sepsis. Anti-PRP antibody has been shown to correlate with protection against invasive disease due to H. influenzae type b.
Based on data from passive antibody studies (15) and an efficacy study with H. influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine in Finland, (16) a post-vaccination anti-PRP level of 0.15 mcg/mL has been accepted as a minimal protective level. Data from an efficacy study with H. influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine in Finland indicate that a level >1.0 mcg/mL 3 weeks after vaccination predicts protection through a subsequent one-year period. (17) (18) These levels have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of Haemophilus b Conjugate Vaccines, including the ActHIB component of Pentacel.
Manufactured by:
Sanofi Pasteur Limited
Toronto Ontario Canada
and Sanofi Pasteur SA
Marcy L'Etoile France
Distributed by:
Sanofi Pasteur Inc.
Swiftwater PA 18370 USA
Pentacel® is a registered trademark of Sanofi Pasteur, its affiliates and subsidiaries.
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