GSK’s Boostrix Receives FDA Approval

GlaxoSmithKline has revealed that its booster vaccine, Boostrix has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to be used as a single dose booster vaccine to treat tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough in people over 65 years of age. Boostrix has already been approved by the FDA for adolescents between 10 to 18 years of age and for adults aged between 19 to 64 years.

While there are other vaccine to treat individual diseases for the elderly, FDA said that this will be the first vaccine to provide protection against all three diseases among the elderly.

“Pertusis is a highly contagious disease, and outbreaks have occurred among the elderly in nursing homes and hospitals. With this approval, adults 65 and older now have the opportunity to receive a vaccine that prevents pertussis, as well as tetanus and diphtheria”, FDA’s Karen Midthun said.


Source-Medindia