On Jul. 29, 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed North American Vaccine, (Beltsville, Maryland) to distribute a combined diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) (Certiva™) for the first four doses of the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccination series administered to infants and children aged 6 weeks-6 years. Certiva™ is the fourth acellular pertussis vaccine to be licensed for use in infants and young children in the United States.

Vaccine doses should be administered at ages 2, 4, 6, and 15-20 months. Data are insufficient to evaluate the use of Certiva™ as a fifth dose among children aged 4-6 years who have received Certiva™ for the previous four doses. Additional information about the immunogenicity and safety of a fifth dose following four previous doses of the same acellular pertussis vaccine is being collected and should be available before these infants are aged 4-6 years and require a fifth dose.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Committee on Infectious Diseases, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend that children routinely receive a series of five doses of vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis before age 7 years. The first four doses should be administered at ages 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months, and the fifth dose at age 4-6 years.