Health
Supply woes hit chickenpox shots
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 4, 2007
Lower-than-expected yields of varicella-zoster virus mean that supplies of ProQuad -- the immunization combining this antigen with those providing protection against measles, mumps and rubella -- will be depleted by July, said a notice in the May 11 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The manufacturer, Merck & Co., expects supplies to be sufficient to continue to provide Varivax, which gives protection only against varicella; and Zostavax, which prevents shingles. Both require less bulk vaccine than the combination shot.
Children are recommended to receive a shot providing varicella protection at ages 12 to 15 months and 4 to 6 years. During this shortfall, physicians who want to reduce the number of injections given at the latter visit may give the second dose of varicella sooner as long as at least a month has passed since the first one, said the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/06/04/hlbf0604.htm.
