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December 18, 2002

 

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

 

"Vaccine Promises More Protection, Fewer Shots"

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (12/17/02) P. A2; Stein, Rob

 

The Food and Drug Administration has approved GlaxoSmithKline's Pediarix vaccine.  The combination shot protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, and hepatitis B in a series of three shots. Pediatrician Alan Gober says that combining different inoculations into one visit may lead to parents being more comfortable about vaccination. Pediarix will lower the number of shots required during a child's first six months of life from nine to three and reduce from 20 to 13 the number of shots needed before a child turns two years of age.

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