VEC Announcements

Changes to Quadracel and Pentacel production lead to VEC materials information update

Previously, the polio vaccine component of Quadracel^® and Pentacel^® was grown in fetal cells. However, in December 2019, Sanofi received FDA approval for a revised production process that removes the use of fetal cells for polio vaccine growth. The revised process uses monkey kidney cells for growth of the polio vaccine component.

As a result, the Vaccine Education Center (VEC) updated our information related to vaccines and fetal cells to remove mentions of these vaccines in the lists of vaccines grown in fetal cells. Changes included:

• Q&A sheets — Two popular sheets were updated online and in print format:
  • The Facts About Childhood Vaccines — English | Spanish
  • Vaccine Ingredients: What You Should Know — English | Spanish
• Webpages
  • Fetal Tissues
  • DNA
  • Fetal Cells & Vaccines: Common Questions Answered
• Video — “Are Fetal Cells Used to Make Vaccines?”
• Mobile app — Vaccines on the Go: What You Should Know — Apple | Android | Video about app

Recent interviews with Dr. Offit

While Dr. Offit has been busy giving a variety of interviews, a couple of recent conversations may be of particular interest:

• The Race to a COVID-19 Vaccine with Dr. Paul Offit, University of Pennsylvania, Perry World House, Sept. 1, 2020
• Paul Offit’s Biggest Concern about COVID Vaccines, Medscape, Sept. 9, 2020
• The VEC’s Current Issues in Vaccines webinar, “Making a COVID-19 Vaccine at Warp Speed,” scheduled for noon ET on Sept. 23 and will be archived on this page by Sept. 25.