Vaccine News, In Brief
Executive Summary
Varivax recommendation change: Varicella vaccination should be delayed from 12-18 months of age to 18-24 months due to a shortage of Merck's Varivax, the only approved varicella vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices votes Feb. 20. Merck predicts supplies of Varivax will be sufficient to return to standard recommendations by early summer. Varivax supplies were affected by shutdown of company's West Point, Penn., manufacturing facility in late 2001 (1"The Pink Sheet" Feb. 11, p. 32)...