Please tell us about the combination vaccine DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB (Vaxelis, MSP Vaccine Company) and the recommendations for its use.

In 2018, FDA licensed Vaxelis for use in children age 6 weeks through 4 years: it is indicated as a 3-dose series for infants at ages 2, 4, and 6 months. ACIP voted to add Vaxelis to the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program in 2019.

The MSP Vaccine Company was created as a joint venture between Merck and Sanofi Pasteur to produce Vaxelis. Vaxelis contains the same DTaP components as Pentacel (Sanofi Pasteur). The IPV component is the same as IPOL (Sanofi Pasteur). The Hib component is the same as PedvaxHIB (Merck), but in a decreased amount. The HepB component is the same as the pediatric formulation of Recombivax HB (Merck), but in an increased amount. Vaxelis is a liquid vaccine that does not require reconstitution.

The complete recommendations for the use of Vaxelis are available at: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/pdfs/mm6905a5-H.pdf.