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ACIP: Acronyms for Vaccines

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Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Vaccines Included in the Immunization Schedules for Children, Adolescents, and Adults

Following is a table of standardized vaccine acronyms, which was developed jointly by staff of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ACIP Work Groups, the editor of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the editor of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (the "Pink Book"), ACIP members, and liaison organizations to the ACIP.

These acronyms are intended to provide a uniform approach to vaccine references used in ACIP Recommendations that are published in the MMWR, the Pink Book, and the American Academy of Pediatrics Red Book; and in the U.S. immunization schedules for children, adolescents, and adults.

Updated May 2015

Vaccine Acronym* Trade Name
Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis-containing vaccines
P=Pediatric
A=Adult
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids adsorbed (P) DT several manufacturers†
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed (P) DTaP Daptacel,
Infanrix
Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed (A) Td Tenivac,
Decavac,
generic
Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine, adsorbed (A) Tdap Adacel,
Boostrix
Tetanus toxoid (P, A) TT generic
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed, hepatitis B and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (P) DTaP-HepB-IPV Pediarix
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (P) DTaP-IPV Kinrix   Quadracel
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed, inactivated poliovirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (P) DTaP-IPV/Hib Pentacel
Haemophilus influenzae type b-containing vaccines§
Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine Hib PedvaxHIB,
Hiberix,
ActHIB
Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate and hepatitis B vaccine Hib-HepB Comvax
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed, inactivated poliovirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine DTaP-IPV/Hib Pentacel
Bivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type b conjugate vaccine Hib-MenCY MenHibrix
Hepatitis-containing vaccines
Hepatitis A vaccine HepA Havrix,
Vaqta
Hepatitis B vaccine HepB Engerix-B,
Recombivax HB
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine HepA-HepB Twinrix
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed, hepatitis B and inactivated poliovirus vaccine DTaP-HepB-IPV Pediarix
Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate and hepatitis B vaccine Hib-HepB Comvax
Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine
Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine HZV Zostavax
Human papillomavirus vaccines
Human papillomavirus vaccine (nonavalent) 9vHPV Gardasil 9
Human papillomavirus vaccine (quadrivalent) 4vHPV Gardasil
Human papillomavirus vaccine (bivalent) 2vHPV Cervarix
Influenza vaccines
Inactivated influenza vaccine IIV several mfrs**
  Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine IIV3 several mfrs
  Quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine IIV4 several mfrs
  Trivalent recombinant influenza vaccine RIV3 FluBlok
  Trivalent cell culture based inactivated influenza vaccine ccIIV3 Flucelvax
Live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV FluMist Quadrivalent
Measles, mumps and rubella-containing vaccines
Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine MMR M-M-R II
Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine MMRV ProQuad
Meningococcal-containing vaccines
Meningococcal conjugate vaccines  
  Quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine MenACWY or MCV4 Menactra
Menveo
  Bivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine Hib-MenCY MenHibrix
Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (quadrivalent) MPSV4 Menomune
Serogroup B meningococcal vaccines MenB Bexsero
Trumenba
Pneumococcal vaccines
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7-valent) PCV7 Prevnar
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (13-valent) PCV13 Prevnar 13
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23-valent) PPSV23 Pneumovax 23
Poliovirus-containing vaccines
Inactivated poliovirus vaccine IPV Ipol
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed and inactivated poliovirus vaccine DTaP-IPV Kinrix
Quadracel
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed, hepatitis B and inactivated poliovirus vaccine DTaP-HepB-IPV Pediarix
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed, inactivated poliovirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine DTaP-IPV/Hib Pentacel
Rotavirus vaccines
Rotavirus vaccine (monovalent) RV1 Rotarix
Rotavirus vaccine (pentavalent) RV5 RotaTeq
Varicella-containing vaccines
Varicella vaccine VAR Varivax
Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccine MMRV ProQuad
Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine HZV Zostavax

* In descriptions of combination vaccines, dash (-) indicates: products in which the active components are supplied in their final (combined) form by the manufacturer; slash ( / ) indicates: products in which active components must be mixed by the user.

† several manufacturers; for complete listing, see U.S. Vaccines [4 pages] and U.S. Vaccine Names

§ For additional Hib vaccine acronyms, see Haemophilus influenzae type b Vaccines Acronyms.

¶ For additional meningococcal vaccine acronyms, see Meningococcal Vaccines Acronyms table.

** For more information on IIV flu vaccines, see the flu vaccines table.

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Haemophilus influenza type b Vaccines Acronyms

Three monovalent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines are available in the U.S.:

  • ActHIB® (Sanofi Pasteur)
  • PedvaxHIB® (Merck)
  • Hiberix® (GlaxoSmithKline)

Alternative acronyms for these products are explained in this table:

Acronym Product Name Additional Information
PRP-T ActHIB
or
Hiberix
May be used to designate ActHIB or Hiberix in scientific publications, or on schedules when the brand name is not used. 
Indicates the Hib polysaccharide PRP (polyribosyl-ribitol-phosphate) and includes the extension “T” to indicate the protein carrier (tetanus toxoid).
(PRP-T is the Hib component in the combination vaccines Pentacel® and MenHibrix®.)
PRP-OMP PedvaxHIB May be used to designate PedvaxHIB in scientific publications or on schedules when the brand name is not used. 
Indicates the Hib polysaccharide PRP (polyribosyl-ribitol-phosphate) and includes the extension “OMP” to indicate the protein carrier (meningococcal group B outer membrane protein).
(PRP-OMP is the Hib component in the combination vaccine Comvax®.)

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Meningococcal Vaccines Acronyms

Six licensed products containing meningococcal antigen are available in the U.S.:

  • Menomune® (Sanofi Pasteur): a quadrivalent (serogroups A, C, W & Y), polysaccharide vaccine,
  • Menactra® (Sanofi Pasteur) and Menveo® (Novartis): quadrivalent (serogroups A, C, W & Y) conjugate vaccines, and
  • MenHibrix® (GlaxoSmithKline): a Haemophilus influenzae type b/bivalent (serogroups C & Y) meningococcal conjugate combination vaccine.
  • Trumenba® (Pfizer) and Bexsero® (Novartis): serogroup B meningococcal vaccines

Alternative acronyms for these products are explained in this table:

Vaccine Type Acronym Product Name Additional Information
Meningococcal (Quadrivalent)
Conjugate
MenACWY
or
MCV4
Menactra
or
Menveo
These two acronyms may be used for
either or both quadrivalent conjugate vaccines,
on vaccination records, schedules, or other documents when it is unnecessary to distinguish between the two products.
MenACWY should be used when it is desirable to identify the 4 vaccine serogroups.
MenACWY-D Menactra May be used to designate Menactra in scientific publications, or when it is necessary to distinguish between the two quadrivalent vaccines. 
Includes the extension “D” to indicate the protein carrier (diphtheria toxoid).
MenACWY-CRM
or
MenACWY-CRM197
Menveo May be used to designate Menveo in scientific publications, or when it is necessary to distinguish between the two quadrivalent vaccines. 
Includes the extension “CRM” or “CRM197” to indicate the protein carrier (a non-toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin).
Hib/ Meningococcal
(Bivalent)
Combination
Hib-MenCY MenHibrix The standard acronym for MenHibrix,
used in most situations.
Hib-MenCY-TT MenHibrix This alternative acronym identifies the
protein carrier (tetanus toxoid).
Meningococcal
(Quadrivalent)
Polysaccharide
MPSV4
or
MPSV
Menomune Either acronym identifies the quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine.
Serogroup B Meningococcal MenB Trumenba
or
Bexsero
This acronym may be used for either or both serogroup B meningococcal vaccines on vaccination records, schedules, or other documents when it is unnecessary to distinguish between the two products.
MenB-FHbp Trumenba May be used to designation Trumenba in scientific publications or when it is necessary to distinguish between the two serogroup B meningococcal vaccines. Includes the extension “FHbp” to indicate the vaccine is composed of two recombinant lipidated Factor H binding protein variants.
MenB-4C Bexsero May be used to designate Bexsero in scientific publications or when it is necessary to distinguish between the two serogroup B meningococcal vaccines. Includes the extension “4C” to indicate the vaccine is composed of 4 components (NHBA, NadA, FHbp, and OMV containing PorA P1.4).

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