Reduced Availability of Pediacel
The higher than usual demand for Pediacel caused by the Hib catch-up campaign (Nov 2007 to March 2009) has resulted in low stocks of Pediacel across the UK.
This vaccine must now be reserved for primary immunisations only. Until supplies of Pediacel are restored recommended options for pre-school boosting are:
- Any locally held stock of Infantrix/IPV+Hib, or
- Infanrix/IPV+Hib/MenC (Menitorix) or Repevax+Hib/MenC (Menitorix)
Locally held stocks should be used up first before placing additional orders for pre-school boosting.
If it is not possible to give the recommended vaccines at the same appointment for children in the Hib catch up campaign, the following should be noted:
- A minimum time period between appointments is not required. No evidence exists that inactivated vaccines interfere with the immune response to other inactivated vaccines or to live vaccines. An inactivated vaccine can be administered either simultaneously or at any time before or after a different inactivated vaccine or live vaccine.
- To avoid missing the MMR, it may be best to ensure that MMR is given in the first appointment
- If Repevax and HiB/MenC (Menitorix) are not given at the same visit for the children in the Hib catch up programme, SIRS will not recall the child for a HiB/MenC (Menitorix). The child will require to be re-appointed by Practice staff for that one injection only.
It is most important that Practices record the actual vaccines given at each visit as well as vaccine batch numbers onto the SIRS sheets so that Child Health staff know exactly which vaccines have been given and these can then be properly keyed into the computer.