Pertussis is something no mother should ever give her baby. Unfortunately, family members, especially mothers, are the primary source of pertussis in infants when a source is identified.1 Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, only 6% of adults reported receiving tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine from 2005 through 2008.2,3
To help ensure more mothers and families in need are protected against pertussis, Adacel® (Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed), AmeriCares®, and What to Expect® have teamed up to introduce the G.I.F.T. program -which stands for “Give Immunity Fight Transmission”. The goal of the G.I.F.T. program is to provide up to 75,000 doses of Adacel vaccine to public and community health facilities at no cost for administration to uninsured mothers and family members across the United States.
- The program will begin with an initial donation of 25,000 doses by sanofi pasteur
- In addition, through May 31, 2011, sanofi pasteur will donate 1 additional dose for every 100 doses sold, up to an additional 50,000 doses
- Your organization can apply to receive doses of Adacel vaccine through an online application process at www.WhatToExpect.com/application or www.AmeriCares.org/dma/adacel
To apply to receive doses of Adacel vaccine through the G.I.F.T. program, or for more information, visit www.WhatToExpect.com/application or www.AmeriCares.org/dma/adacel. We hope you will join us in our commitment to making every dose of Adacel vaccine count by ensuring more mothers and families in need have access to immunization with Tdap vaccine.
Neither What to Expect nor AmeriCares endorse specific products or brands.
References: 1. Wendelboe AM, Njamkepo E, Bourillon A, et al. Transmission of Bordetella pertussis to young infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2007;26:293-299. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Preventing tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis among adults: use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and recommendation of ACIP, supported by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), for use of Tdap among health-care personnel. MMWR. 2006;55(RR-17):1-37. 3. Miller B. Factors influencing tetanus toxoid-containing vaccination (TTCV) coverage – including Tdap – among U.S. adults. http://cdc.confex.com/recording/cdc/nic2010/ppt/free/4db77adf5df9fff0d3caf5cafe28f496/paper22766_5.ppt. Accessed August 30, 2010. MKT19634-1-1R
