On May 14, 2002, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use an additional combined diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) (DAPTACEL™ Aventis Pasteur,[Toronto, Ontario]) for the first 4 doses of the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccination (DTP) series administered to infants and children aged 6 weeks–6 years (before seventh birthday).

DAPTACEL™ was the fifth acellular pertussis vaccine to be licensed for use among infants and young children in the United States.