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【medical-news】Merck的带状疱疹病毒疫苗供不应求
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/579877
By Karla Gale
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Aug 29 - A shortfall in the supply of Merck's Zostavax vaccine for shingles prevention has created a backlog of orders that likely won't be resolved for months, the company has announced.
Merck spokesman Ian McConnell, at the company headquarters in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, told Reuters Health that "demand for Zostavax has increased significantly, coincident with recent publicity and increasing awareness of adult vaccination, and the shingles vaccine in particular."
Zostavax is a lyophilized, live, attenuated varicella zoster vaccine that has been available since 2006 for use in immunocompetent persons age 60 years and older.
In June of this year, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issued new directives for the prevention of herpes zoster for immunocompetent patients who might be anticipating initiation of immunosuppressive treatments or who have diseases that might lead to immunodeficiency.
Such patients without a history of zoster vaccination are advised to receive one dose of zoster vaccine while their immunity is intact and at least 14 days before initiation of immunosuppressive therapy, such as TNF inhibitors and other biologic immune modulators used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
"I'm sure that the new directives have added to the increased demand," McConnell said.
According to the Merck web site, "Orders received 6/17/08 through most but not all wholesalers/physician distributors, will continue shipping the week of 8/25/08." Otherwise, "orders will be filled by date of order when new supply becomes available."
For orders received between June 18 and June 27, the company anticipates a delay in delivery of 12 to 16 weeks. For orders placed since June 30, the estimated delay is 16 to 20 weeks.
"Merck is committed to resolving this situation in order to make Zostavax available in a timely manner," McConnell added.
SOURCES:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5705.pdf
http://www.rheumatology.org/publications/hotline/2008_08_01_shingles.asp
http://www.merck.com/e-business/reports/MVC_Supply_Status.pdf [标签:content1][标签:content2]
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作者:admin@医学,生命科学 2011-01-15 17:14
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