Dtwp vaccine

Extract from report of GACVS meeting of 12-13 June 2013, published in the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record on 19 July 2013 Since 2008, Haemophilus influenzae type b(Hib) vaccine has been introduced progressively into Asian countries’ immunization programmes. Hib vaccine has usually been introduced as a component of a combination pentavalent vaccine, which has replaced the traditional diphtheria–tetanus–whole-cell pertussis (DTwP) or DTPwP-hepatitis B vaccines. As with the introduction of any new vaccine, there has been particular attention to adverse events following immunization (AEFI), which presented challenges in several countries in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions. Four countries that introduced pentavalent vaccines from 3 different manufacturers presented their experience: (1) Sri Lanka introduced the pentavalent vaccine from Crucell in January 2008. Within 3 months, 4 reports of deaths and 24 reports of suspected hypotonic-hyporesponsive episodes prompted regulatory attention and precautionary suspension of the initial vaccine lot. A subsequent death that occurred with the next lot in April 2009 led the authorities to suspend pentavalent vaccine use and resume DTwP and hepatitis B vaccination. (2) Bhutan introduced pentavalent vaccine from Panacea in September 2009. The identification of 5 cases with encephalopathy and/or meningoencephalitis shortly after pentavalent vaccination prompted the authorities to suspend vaccination on 23 October 2009....