VARIVAX{Registered} * (Merck & Co., Inc. {West Point,
Pennsylvania}), a live attenuated virus vaccine for preventing
chickenpox, recently has been licensed for children aged greater
than or equal to 12 months. Adults without a reliable history of
chickenpox also can receive the vaccine. However, because no data
exist about the effects of VARIVAX{Registered} on fetal development
and because natural varicella infection can cause a complex of
congenital anomalies (i.e., congenital varicella syndrome), the
package circular states that VARIVAX{Registered} should not be
administered during pregnancy and that pregnancy should be avoided
for at least 3 months after vaccination.
Merck & Co., Inc., in collaboration with CDC, has established
a registry to follow the outcomes of pregnancy when women are
vaccinated within 3 months before pregnancy or at any time during
pregnancy. Patients and health-care providers should report any
vaccinations with VARIVAX{Registered} during this period to the
registry, telephone (800) 986-8999; mailing address, Merck Research
Labs, Worldwide Product Safety & Epidemiology, BLA-31, West Point,
PA 19486. Questions regarding the registry should be directed to
Dr. Jeanne Manson at this address; telephone (610) 397-7290
(collect); or fax (610) 397-2328. An annual report will be sent to
health-care providers participating in the registry.
Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification
only and does not imply endorsement by the Public Health Service or
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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