RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — GlaxoSmithKline has launched the GSK Vaccines Access Program, which aims to provide the company’s adult vaccines free to eligible, low-income individuals who lack insurance coverage for immunizations.

The pharmaceutical giant said Monday that the program will cover its Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis for eligible people ages 19 and older.

In addition, the program includes GSK’s cervical cancer vaccine for women ages 19 to 25 — who because of their age aren’t covered under the national Vaccines for Children program — and who meet other eligibility requirements.

"Vaccines are one of the most effective ways we can prevent and fight disease and subsequently help drive down the cost of health care in the United States," Deirdre Connelly, GSK’s president of North America pharmaceuticals, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, vaccines are severely underutilized by American adults. Through the introduction of the GSK Vaccines Access Program, we hope to break down one of the barriers to routine vaccination, ensuring that adults have access to these important preventative measures."

In the United States, children up to age 18 are eligible to receive free vaccines under a separate federally funded entitlement program called Vaccines for Children (VFC), once a vaccine is approved by the FDA and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), according to GSK.

However, a similar program doesn’t exist for adults, and gaps in coverage — along with a lack of routine doctor visits — have led to lower immunization rates among Americans over the age of 18, the company noted.

The GSK Vaccine Access Program is designed to help adults over age 18 who lack insurance and whose income is not more than 250% of the federal poverty level ($27,075 for a single-person household, or $36,425 for a couple) obtain free vaccinations.

Details of the GSK Vaccine Access Program can be found online at GSK-VAP.com or by calling 877-VACC-911 (822-2911).