Recent news about pertussis outbreaks that have resulted in infant deaths is causing serious concern in the healthcare community. Back in August 2006 and again in July 2010 the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) issued a warning about confusion of Adacel and Daptacel which are vaccines for the prevention of tetanus, pertusis, and diptheria. ISMP explained how administering the incorrect vaccine to infants can result in ineffective immunization leaving babies vulnerable to infection. The IMSP Medication Safety Alert from July 1 2010 reported that "Part of the problem is that the official names of the products are very similar although stated in different order on the labels. One of them, diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), is sold under the brand names DAPTACEL and TRIPEDIA (Sanofi Pasteur), and INFANRIX (GlaxoSmithKline). This formulation is for active immunization of pediatric patients 6 weeks through 6 years of age. The other vaccine, tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), is sold under the names BOOSTRIX (GlaxoSmithKline) and ADACEL (Sanofi Pasteur), and is meant to be used as booster shots for older children, adolescents, and adults."

   This is back to school season and vaccines are on the minds of parents, schools nurses, pediatric nurses and NPs. This is a perfect time to review our procedures for prescribing and administering childhood vaccines to ensure that the correct vaccine is ordered and administered each time. For more details on the recommended vaccine schedule, go to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/.

Post by Karen Innocent, MS, RN, CRNP, ANP-BC, CMSRN