Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella Virus Vaccine Live Injection

03 September 2009

Products Affected - Description

ProQuad single dose vials, package of 10 (NDC 00006-4999-00), Merck

Reason for the Shortage

Merck has lower than expected yields of bulk varicella-zoster virus used to manufacture vaccines, particularly ProQuad.¹

Estimated Resupply Dates

Supplies of ProQuad are depleted. Merck estimates ProQuad will be available in the first half of 2010.^1,2

Implications for Patient Care

ProQuad is used to simultaneously vaccinate children 12 months to 12 years of age against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.³

Safety

Do not mix MMR-II and Varivax in the same syringe during this shortage.²

Alternative Agents & Management

Clinicians must use the single component vaccines MMR-II and Varivax during this shortage.⁴

Related Shortages

• Hepatitis A Virus Vaccine Inactivated
• Hepatitis B Vaccine Recombinant
• Hepatitis B Vaccine Recombinant and Bivalent Haemophilus influenzae type B conjugate
• Influenza Virus Vaccine
• Measles Virus Vaccine Live— No Longer Available
• Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine— Resolved
• Mumps Virus Vaccine Live— No Longer Available
• Rabies Vaccine— Resolved
• Rubella Virus Vaccine Live Injection— No Longer Available
• Varicella Virus Vaccine Live— Resolved
• Yellow Fever Vaccine Injection
• Zoster Vaccine Live— Resolved

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notice to Readers: Supply of Vaccines Containing Varicella-Zoster Virus. MMWR. 2007:56(07);146-147. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5607a4.htm?s_cid=mm5607a4_e
2. Merck (personal communication). February 26, March 5, May 29, and July 10 and 23, 2007; February 11, August 18, 2008; February 11, June 1, June 23, and September 1, 2009.
3. ProQuad (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella Virus Vaccine Live) [product information]. West Point, PA: Merck; 2006, July.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notice to Readers: Supply of Vaccines Containing Varicella-Zoster Virus. MMWR. 2007;56(18);453. Available online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5618a6.htm

Updated

Updated September 3, 2009, by Michelle Wheeler, Pharm.D., Drug Information Specialist. Created February 6, 2007 by Erin R. Fox, Pharm.D., Drug Information Specialist. Copyright 2009, Drug Information Service, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.

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