US green lights GSK vaccine for use during pregnancy

GSK’s whooping cough vaccine has been approved for use in pregnant women in the US.

Boosterix is already approved for use worldwide for immunisation against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, also known as whooping cough. But the US Food and Drug Administration has now approved it for use during the third trimester of pregnancy as well, to help prevent pertussis in babies under two months old.

GSK said the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had reported between 15,000 to 48,000 cases of pertussis since 2010, with infants at a "high risk" of complications because of their immature immune systems.

Roger Connor, president of vaccines and global health at GSK, said: "We’re immensely proud to have the first-ever Tdap vaccine approved by the FDA specifically for use during pregnancy.

"We believe this approval may help protect more infants from the potentially life-threatening implications of whooping cough."

GlaxoSmithKline was split into two companies earlier this year when it spun off its consumer healthcare division, called Haleon. The remaining business, rebranded GSK, is focused on prescription drugs and vaccines.