Vaccine Shortage Delays Some Kids' Shots

http://www.immunizationinfo.org/newsbriefs/detail.cfm?id=7039&kw=&sorting=date&type=d&pub=&d1=03/08/02&d2=03/08/02&pubdate=&author=

 

Vaccine Shortage Delays Some Kids' Shots
Atlanta Journal-Constitution; 1A
McKenna, M.A.J.

[03/08/2002]

 

Supplies of the chickenpox and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines are more than 1 million doses below normal, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For this reason, the CDC is calling on doctors to indefinitely postpone the second MMR shot, usually given to children between the ages of four years and six years, and delay vaccination children against chickenpox until age 18 months, instead of between 12 and 18 months. At present, eight of the 11 required childhood immunizations are currently experiencing shortages. Merck, the only U.S. maker of the chickenpox and the MMR vaccines, experienced a one-month interruption of its manufacturing last year due to a Food and Drug Administration inspection, which led to the latest shortfalls.

 
     
 

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