In an interview following the hearing, Dr. Decker noted that only about half of U.S. physicians are using the currently available combination vaccines Comvax and Pediarix for routine infant immunization, while the other 50% are still using the separate ones. “That tells you physicians are not fully happy with their choices.”
Indeed, Dr. Modlin noted, increasing competition in the combination vaccine market would be another “big advantage” of licensing Pentacel. “Competition is always a good thing, particularly with regard to public health programs.”