The CDC’s advisory committee voted to recommend Pfizer’s new meningococcal vaccine, called Penbraya. The vaccine which gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week, was recommended by a 10-4 vote. Penbraya is the first vaccine to cover five types of meningococcal bacteria, allowing adolescents to develop immunity from two shots, rather than four. A few of the panel’s experts were not satisfied with the language of the proposal in question, preferring a broader recommendation. These committee members also raised concerns about the potential burden on physicians of adding a new vaccine regimen to the mix of meningococcal vaccines. The committee also stressed the importance of promoting Americans’ use of the meningococcal shot. The CDC director will make the final decision on approval.
Full Story: CIDRAP