A representative from Merck announced that the company
plans to discontinue production of monovalent measles, mumps, rubella vaccine
formulations during the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s
meeting yesterday.
“We greatly value the role the CDC and the ACIP
have taken in putting forth recommendations and policies about the optimal use
of vaccines for infectious diseases. Similarly, we take our role very seriously
in terms of developing and supplying vaccines that are optimally suited to meet
these needs,” said Mark Feinberg, MD, PhD, vice president of medical
affairs in Merck’s division of vaccines and infectious diseases.
“Based on discussions that took place at the last ACIP meeting among
scientific leaders we have decided that Merck will not resume production of our
monovalent measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.”
Feinberg added that the company will focus attention to
meet current prevention needs on production of the combination M-M-R II
vaccine. “When we receive questions from parents or other interested
parties we will refer them to the useful information provided by the CDC, the
ACIP, the AAP and other professional organizations.”
The announcement occurred during discussions to
streamline recommendations made during the past year in the committee’s
2010 immunization schedules for children and adults. Merck’s decision is
based on the ACIP’s stated general preference for combination vaccines and
follows controversial debates concerning the increased risk for febrile
seizures among measles, mumps, rubella and varicella virus live vaccine
(ProQuad, Merck) recipients at the past several meetings.
Health care providers continue to experience push back
from vaccine-hesitant parents, despite no evidence to support long term adverse
events among patients who experienced the seizures and amid additional
unfounded concerns that vaccines cause autism. These parents either decline
vaccination or request to space out recommended vaccines, contrary to evidence
that indicates delaying vaccines poses a greater risk to children than the
theoretical threat from vaccines.
Merck’s announcement was welcomed by applause from
committee members and meeting attendees, who recognized the moves potential
positive effect on public health. Combination vaccine formulations typically
cost more for manufacturers to produce, undergo more rigorous testing to
receive approval and yield lower reimbursement rates for physicians, but result
in less pain for children and have the potential to improve vaccine coverage
rates.
In addition to the announcement, the committee passed
motions to incorporate clarified language concerning decisions made earlier
this year, including:
- Changes to footnotes for hepatitis A and B, Haemophilus influenzae
type B, inactivated polio, meningcococcal and rotavirus vaccines in the
childhood and adolescent immunization schedule.
- Clarifications in intervals between pneumococcal vaccine
administration in the childhood schedules.
- Language to distinguish between seasonal and H1N1 influenza in both
the child, adolescent and adult schedules.
- Language to distinguish between seasonal and H1N1 influenza in both
the child, adolescent and adult schedules.
- General recommendations for handling and storing herpes zoster
vaccine.
Final language and wording changes will be reflected in
the 2010 immunization schedules available to health care providers in the Jan.
8 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. – by
Nicole Blazek
