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February 25, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Panel: Postpone Chickenpox Shots”

USA Today (www.usatoday.com) (02/25/02) P. 13B

In an effort to ease a shortage of vaccine supplies, a federal vaccine advisory panel last week recommended delaying routine chickenpox vaccination for toddlers.  The advisory committee recommended that vaccine providers postpone chickenpox immunization from 12 to 18 months of age to 18 to 24 months of age.  Approximately 500,000 doses of the vaccine are on back order under a contract with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the shortage is expected to extend through at least late spring.

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