INTRODUCTION: Vaccinations in school-aged children are required by state and 
local law to maintain high vaccination coverage rates, as well as low rates of 
vaccine-preventable diseases. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are childhood 
diseases that can be life threatening; poliomyelitis, another childhood disease, 
can be disabling. In turn, vaccinations were developed to provide protection 
against these diseases. Today, several vaccinations are recommended for 
children, including but not limited to diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) 
and poliomyelitis (IPV). DTaP requires five doses, and IPV requires four. 
Quadracel (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed and 
inactivated poliovirus vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur Inc.) is a new vaccination 
developed to condense the last dose of both DTaP and IPV so they do not have to 
be given separately, thus reducing the total number of vaccinations required.
DISCUSSION: The Quadracel vaccine is an option for use in children who are 
completing the DTaP and IPV series. In a randomized, controlled, phase 3, 
pivotal trial, Quadracel proved to be as efficacious and safe as Daptacel 
(diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed, Sanofi 
Pasteur Inc.) and IPOL (poliovirus vaccine inactivated, Sanofi Pasteur Inc.), 
given separately, to children between the ages of 4 and 6 years.
CONCLUSION: Quadracel should be recommended to parents who have children between 
the ages of 4 and 6 years who meet the necessary administration criteria and 
need to finalize their DTaP and IPV series. Quadracel's administration in the 
vaccination series replaces one additional injection, which may benefit children 
who are afraid of receiving shots and parents who need to schedule one less 
doctor's appointment.