Combo vaccines endorsed by federal advisory panel

In a move that should make it easier for millions of children in the U.S. to get their recommended vaccinations, a federal vaccine advisory panel has endorsed two new combination vaccinations. GlaxoSmithKline won a thumb's up from the advisory panel for a four-in-one shot that guards against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio at a cost of $45. Sanofi Pasteur won an endorsement of its five-in-one shot for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b, or HiB. That jab costs $69. The vaccine advisory panel's decision helps clear the way for 36 million children to receive the vaccines through the Vaccines for Children program. Both vaccines have been approved by the FDA.

The new combination vaccines don't change the number of vaccinations that children are expected to receive. But it should make it easier for parents to keep track of which vaccinations have been completed.

- read the report in the Baltimore Sun