A July 17 article picked up by AP is touting Sanofi Pasteur's new Pentacel
vaccine as a vaccine that will reduce the number of shots children receive. In
fact, this is not true for most children who are already being vaccinated with
Glaxo SmithKline's Pediarix, another 5-in-1 vaccine that has been widely used
in the US for over 5 years.
The difference between the two is that Pentacel includes DTaP (diphtheria,
tetanus and pertussis), polio and HiB. Pediarix includes DTaP, polio and
hepatitis-B. Either shot would require an additional 3 injections of either
Hepatitis-B or HiB. And while Pentacel is given in 4 doses; Pediarix requires
only 3 doses. Pentacel also requires reconstitution from 2 separate vials
prior to administration, while Pediarix comes ready to be used, making it less
cumbersome and safer to use. Either vaccine can be given from 6wks of age to
18 mos.
But perhaps the greatest disparity between the two vaccines is that Pentacel
uses aborted fetal cell line MRC-5 in its polio version, while Pediarix uses
Vero cell lines, making it the vaccine of choice for prolife families and
physicians.
Sanofi chose to market their aborted fetal version in the US after Canadian
Physicians for Life successfully lobbied Health Canada for access to the
ethically produced version in 2006 and stopped using Pentacel.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and the FDA withdrew the Sanofi
"tainted" version of polio (Poliovax) from distribution in the US in early
2000. The only separate dose of the polio vaccine given in the US uses Vero
cell lines - not aborted fetal cell lines. Clearly, the only reason for the
ACIP recommendation of Pentacel appears to be a financial plug for Pentacel's
lagging sales. Concerned parents and physicians beware: Pediarix is
the ethical version - and it does mean less shots for children.
For a list
of all aborted fetal cell line vaccines and alternatives,
click here.