Novel primary vaccine in the childhood vaccinationprogramme
As from 18 March 2019, the Pentavac vaccine will be introduced as a new primary vaccine in the childhood vaccination programme. Pentavac is equivalent to the previously used primary vaccine DiTeKiPol/Hib from AJ Vaccines A/S (previously an SSI vaccine).
The background for this is the statutory vaccine tender, and, initially, the change will remain in force for 4 years. Children who initiate the childhood vaccination programme as from 18 March 2019 must be immunised using the new vaccine that provides protection against the usual conditions (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b infection). The vaccine is given at 3, 5 and 12 months of age.
Pentavac is produced by Sanofi Pasteur and is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). By 2016, more than 160 million doses of Pentavac had been administered worldwide. The vaccine is, among others, used in the childhood vaccination programmes of Sweden, Finland and Iceland.
For more information, please see EPI-NEWS 10/19.