2 June 2005

Supply of Revaxis® vaccine

Sanofi Pasteur MSD are temporarily unable to supply Revaxis® (Td/IPV) for adult and travel use.

In order to prevent disruption to the childhood vaccination programme, the Department of Health (DH) recommends that supplies of Revaxis from Farillon are reserved for the vaccination of teenage school leavers only.

In the interim period the DH recommends Diftavax® (Td) be used for adults and travellers where indicated. Diftavax® is available free of charge from Farillon or directly from Sanofi Pasteur MSD.

For adults and travellers who require protection against polio, the monovalent inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) should be used which is available from Sanofi Pasteur MSD.

Both Diftavax® and IPV ordered directly from Sanofi Pasteur MSD for this will be reimbursed by the Prescriptions Pricing Authority (PPA).

The current recommendation for polio vaccination is that all travellers are up to date with their UK immunisation schedule. Recommendations for travel to the different WHO regions are provided below.

WHO European Region (certified polio free June 2002): a polio booster is no longer recommended for travel to countries within this region, unless the traveller has never completed a primary course. In these circumstances the primary course should be completed.

WHO Western Pacific Region (certified polio free October 2000): a polio booster is no longer recommended for travel to countries within this region, unless the traveller has never completed a primary course. In these circumstances the primary course should be completed.

WHO American Region (certified polio free in September 1994): a polio booster is no longer recommended for travel to countries within this region, unless the traveller has never completed a primary course. In these circumstances the primary course should be completed.

WHO African Region : a booster dose of polio is recommended for those who have not received a dose within the previous 10 years

WHO South East Asian Region : a booster dose of polio is recommended for those who have not received a dose within the previous 10 years

WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region : a booster dose of polio is recommended for those who have not received a dose within the previous 10 years.

Further explanation of these changes can be found in the June issue of Vaccine Update, the monthly publication from the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency: http://www.pasa.nhs.uk/pharma/vaccines.stm

Links

World Health Organization Polio Eradication Initiative http://www.polioeradication.org

A list of countries currently reporting cases of wild type poliomyelitis can be found at: http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp