WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Syncope
Because vaccinees may develop syncope, sometimes resulting in falling with injury, observation for 15 minutes after administration is recommended. Syncope, sometimes associated with tonic-clonic movements and other seizure-like activity, has been reported following vaccination with CERVARIX. When syncope is associated with tonic-clonic movements, the activity is usually transient and typically responds to restoring cerebral perfusion by maintaining a supine or Trendelenburg position.
Latex
The tip cap and the rubber plunger of the needleless prefilled syringes contain dry natural latex rubber that may cause allergic reactions in latex sensitive individuals. The vial stopper does not contain latex.
Preventing and Managing Allergic Vaccine Reactions
Prior to administration, the healthcare provider should review the immunization history for possible vaccine hypersensitivity and previous vaccination-related adverse reactions to allow an assessment of benefits and risks. Appropriate medical treatment and supervision should be readily available in case of anaphylactic reactions following administration of CERVARIX.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category B
Reproduction studies have been performed in rats at a dose approximately 47 times the human dose (on a mg/kg basis) and revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to CERVARIX. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
Non-Clinical Studies: An evaluation of the effect of CERVARIX on embryo-fetal, pre- and post-natal development was conducted using rats. One group of rats was administered CERVARIX 30 days prior to gestation and during the period of organogenesis (gestation days 6, 8, 11, and 15). A second group of rats was administered saline at 30 days prior to gestation followed by CERVARIX on days 6, 8, 11, and 15 of gestation. Two additional groups of rats received either saline or adjuvant following the same dosing regimen. CERVARIX was administered at 0.1 mL/rat/occasion (approximately 47-fold excess relative to the projected human dose on a mg/kg basis) by intramuscular injection. No adverse effects on mating, fertility, pregnancy, parturition, lactation, or embryo-fetal, pre- and post-natal development were observed. There were no vaccine-related fetal malformations or other evidence of teratogenesis.
Clinical Studies:
Overall Outcomes: In clinical studies, pregnancy testing was performed prior to each vaccine administration and vaccination was discontinued if a subject had a positive pregnancy test. In all clinical trials, subjects were instructed to take precautions to avoid pregnancy until 2 months after the last vaccination. During pre-licensure clinical development, a total of 7,276 pregnancies were reported among 3,696 females receiving CERVARIX and 3,580 females receiving a control (Hepatitis A Vaccine 360 EL.U., Hepatitis A Vaccine 720 EL.U., or 500 mcg Al(OH)3). The overall proportions of pregnancy outcomes were similar between treatment groups. The majority of women gave birth to normal infants (62.2% and 62.6% of recipients of CERVARIX and control, respectively). Other outcomes included spontaneous abortion (11.0% and 10.8% of recipients of CERVARIX and control, respectively), elective termination (5.8% and 6.1% of recipients of CERVARIX and control, respectively), abnormal infant other than congenital anomaly (2.8% and 3.2% of recipients of CERVARIX and control, respectively), and premature birth (2.0% and 1.7% of recipients of CERVARIX and control, respectively). Other outcomes (congenital anomaly, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, and therapeutic abortion) were reported less frequently in 0.1% to 0.8% of pregnancies in both groups.
Outcomes Around Time of Vaccination: Sub-analyses were conducted to describe pregnancy outcomes in 761 women [N = 396 for CERVARIX and N = 365 pooled control, HAV 360 EL.U., HAV 720 EL.U., and 500 mcg Al(OH)3] who had their last menstrual period within 30 days prior to, or 45 days after a vaccine dose and for whom pregnancy outcome was known. The majority of women gave birth to normal infants (65.2% and 69.3% of recipients of CERVARIX and control, respectively). Spontaneous abortion was reported in a total of 11.7% of subjects (13.6% of recipients of CERVARIX and 9.6% of control recipients) and elective termination was reported in a total of 9.7% of subjects (9.9% of recipients of CERVARIX and 9.6% of control recipients). Abnormal infant other than congenital anomaly was reported in a total of 4.9% of subjects (5.1% of recipients of CERVARIX and 4.7% of control recipients) and premature birth was reported in a total of 2.5% of subjects (2.5% of both groups). Other outcomes (congenital anomaly, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, and therapeutic abortion) were reported in 0.3% to 1.8% of pregnancies among recipients of CERVARIX and in 0.3% to 1.4% of pregnancies among control recipients.
It is not known whether the observed numerical imbalance in spontaneous abortions in pregnancies which occurred around the time of vaccination is due to a vaccine-related effect.
Pregnancy Registry: Healthcare providers are encouraged to register pregnant women who inadvertently receive CERVARIX in the GlaxoSmithKline vaccination pregnancy registry by calling 1-888-452-9622.
Nursing Mothers
In non-clinical studies in rats, serological data suggest a transfer of anti-HPV-16 and anti-HPV-18 antibodies via milk during lactation in rats. Excretion of vaccine-induced antibodies in human milk has not been studied for CERVARIX. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when CERVARIX is administered to a nursing woman.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients younger than 10 years of age have not been established. The safety and effectiveness of CERVARIX have been evaluated in 1,193 subjects 10 through 14 years of age and 6,316 subjects 15 through 17 years of age. [See Adverse Reactions and Clinical Studies (14.5).]
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies of CERVARIX did not include sufficient numbers of subjects 65 years of age and older to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. CERVARIX is not approved for use in subjects 65 years of age and older.
Immunocompromised Individuals
The immune response to CERVARIX may be diminished in immunocompromised individuals [see Drug Interactions].
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