2.1 Dosage and Schedule

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed is approved for administration as a 5 dose series at 2, 4, 6, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years. The first dose of Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed may be administered as early as 6 weeks of age.

2.2 Administration

Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. If these conditions exist, the product should not be administered.

After removing the "flip-off" cap, cleanse the vaccine vial stopper with a suitable germicide. Do not remove either the rubber stopper or the metal seal holding it in place. Just before use, shake the vial well until a uniform, white, cloudy suspension results.

Using a sterile needle and syringe and aseptic technique, withdraw and administer a single 0.5 mL dose of Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed intramuscularly. Use a separate sterile needle and syringe for each injection. Changing needles between withdrawing the vaccine from the vial and injecting it into a recipient is not necessary unless the needle has been damaged or contaminated. In infants younger than 1 year, the anterolateral aspect of the thigh provides the largest muscle and is the preferred site of injection. In older children, the deltoid muscle is usually large enough for injection. The vaccine should not be injected into the gluteal area or areas where there may be a major nerve trunk.

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed vaccine should not be combined through reconstitution or mixed with any other vaccine. Discard unused portion.

5.1 Management of Acute Allergic Reactions

Epinephrine Injection (1:1000) and other appropriate agents and equipment must be available for immediate use in case an anaphylactic or acute hypersensitivity reaction occurs.

5.2 Guillain-Barré Syndrome and Brachial Neuritis

A review by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found evidence for a causal relation between tetanus toxoid and both brachial neuritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. (1) If Guillain-Barré syndrome occurred within 6 weeks of receipt of prior vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, the risk for Guillain-Barré syndrome may be increased following Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed vaccine.

5.3 Limitation of Vaccine Effectiveness

Vaccination with Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed may not protect all individuals.

5.4 Altered Immunocompetence

If Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed vaccine is administered to immunocompromised persons, including persons receiving immunosuppressive therapy, the expected immune response may not be obtained. [See Immunosuppressive Treatments (7.3).]

5.5 Apnea in Premature Infants

Apnea following intramuscular vaccination has been observed in some infants born prematurely. The decision about when to administer an intramuscular vaccine, including Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed, to an infant born prematurely should be based on consideration of the individual infant's medical status and the potential benefits and possible risks of vaccination.

5.6 Syncope

Syncope (fainting) has been reported following vaccination with Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed vaccine. Procedures should be in place to prevent falling injury and manage syncopal reactions.

6.1 Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a vaccine cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another vaccine and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The adverse reaction information from clinical trials does, however, provide a basis for identifying the adverse events that appear to be related to vaccine use and for approximating rates of those events.

In a clinical trial in Baltimore, 163 infants received Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. The results of this trial are presented in Table 1.

Two clinical trials were conducted in Canada. In the first clinical trial, 52 children aged 17-22 months who had previously received 3 doses of whole-cell DTP Adsorbed vaccine (not licensed in US), received Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed with either an acellular pertussis (n = 25) or a whole cell pertussis (n = 27) vaccine (neither licensed in US) given concurrently but at a separate site. The only reported local reaction was slight pain at the Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed injection site in 11% of children.

In a second clinical trial conducted in Canada, 99 children aged 4 to 6 years old who were eligible for the preschool (fifth) dose of DTP received Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed in one arm and a whole-cell Monovalent Pertussis vaccine (not licensed in US) in the other. The following local reactions at the Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed injection site were reported: redness ≥50 mm - 9%, swelling >50 mm - 51%, tenderness, moderate or severe - 17%, arm mobility "too sore to move" - 9%. (2)

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed evaluated in clinical trials contained thimerosal.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse events have been spontaneously reported during the postmarketing use of a Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur Limited that contained thimerosal. Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to vaccine exposure.

The following adverse events were included based on severity, frequency of reporting or the strength of causal association with Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed:

Blood and lymphatic system disorders

Lymphadenopathy

Gastrointestinal disorders

Nausea

General disorders and administration site conditions

Injection site inflammation

Injection site hypersensitivity

Pain

Nervous system disorders

Convulsion

Somnolence

Syncope

Headache

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Rash

Urticaria

Vascular disorders

Pallor

7.1 Concomitant Administration with Other Vaccines

No safety and immunogenicity data are available on the concomitant administration of Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed with other US licensed vaccines.

7.2 Concomitant Administration with Tetanus Immune Globulin (Human)

If passive protection against tetanus is required, TIG (Human) may be administered according to its prescribing information, concomitantly with Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed at a separate site with a separate needle and syringe.

7.3 Immunosuppressive Treatments

Immunosuppressive therapies, including irradiation, antimetabolites, alkylating agents, cytotoxic drugs and corticosteroids (used in greater than physiologic doses), may reduce the immune response to Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed. [See Warnings and Precautions (5.4).]

8.1 Pregnancy

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed is not approved for use in individuals 7 years of age and older. Human or animal data are not available to assess vaccine-associated risks in pregnancy.

8.2 Lactation

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed is not approved for use in individuals 7 years of age and older. Human or animal data are not available to assess the impact of Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed on milk production, its presence in breast milk, or its effects on the breastfed infant.

8.4 Pediatric Use

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed is not indicated for infants below 6 weeks of age or children 7 years of age or older. Safety and effectiveness of Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed in these age groups have not been established.

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Diphtheria is an acute toxin-mediated disease caused by toxigenic strains of C. diphtheriae. Protection against disease is due to the development of neutralizing antibodies to diphtheria toxin. A serum diphtheria antitoxin level of 0.01 International Units (IU)/mL is the lowest level giving some degree of protection, and levels of at least 0.1 IU/mL are generally regarded as protective. (3) (4)

Tetanus is an acute disease caused by an extremely potent neurotoxin produced by C. tetani. Protection against disease is due to the development of neutralizing antibodies to tetanus toxin. A serum tetanus antitoxin level of 0.01 IU/mL, measured by neutralization assay is considered the minimum protective level. (3) (5)

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed has not been evaluated for carcinogenicity, mutagenic potential, or impairment of fertility.

Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids Adsorbed should be stored at 2° to 8°C (35° to 46° F). Do not freeze. Product which has been exposed to freezing should not be used. Do not use vaccine beyond the expiration date. Discard unused portion.