Chiron withdraws MMR Vaccine on safety grounds. March 17.
US pharmaceuticals company Chiron Corp announced the recall and withdrawal of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine Morupar, of which it supplied 5 mln doses last year, mainly to developing countries ( children with compromised immune syatems) and approximately 450,000 doses to Italy.
Results of routine pharmacovigilance surveillance in Italy suggests that Morupar 'may be associated with a higher rate of adverse events following immunization than other MMRs', such as fever, allergic reactions and swelling of glands ( does this surveillance include children in developing countries?)
However, Chiron reiterated that historical surveillance data indicate that adverse events remain rare and that it is recalling and withdrawing the vaccine as a precautionary measure.
From the manufactiurers web site. ( Have heard this before)
Measles vaccine - Morupar Chiron vaccine
The first measles vaccine became available in the year 1963, an improved measles vaccine became available from late 1960’s and finally a combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine became available in the early 1970’s.The measles vaccine (e.g. Morupar® vaccine) is a live, attenuated (or weakened) strain of the measles virus grown in chick embryo tissue culture. Two doses of measles vaccine (given as MMR combination) are recommended in most countries for all children and certain adolescents and adults (risk groups). The first dose of MMR vaccine produces immunity to measles in over 95% of children vaccinated. The reason for the second dose is to protect those persons who did not become immune after one dose. After two doses of measles vaccine, nearly 99% of persons become immune to the diseases.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause potentially fatal lung and brain complications. People get measles by breathing in droplets that contain the measles virus or by contact with fluids from the nose or throat of an infected person. Measles is very contagious. An uninfected person can get measles simply by breathing the air in a room where an infected person has been. The virus can live in the air for 2 hours after an infected person leaves a room. Infected persons are usually infectious to others even before symptoms appear.
There is no specific treatment for measles. Measles is preventable through immunization by a measles vaccine. The only prevention of measles is vaccination with a measles vaccine.
Persons who have not been immunized with a measles vaccine (e.g. Morupar® vaccine) are the main risk group. Infants are generally protected from measles for 6 to 8 months after birth, due to immunity that was passed on from their mothers. Older children usually receive measles immunization with a measles vaccines according to state and school health regulations. Currently, outbreaks of measles are occurring most often in schools and on college campuses, among young persons who have not been adequately immunized with a measles vaccine or whose immunity has decreased since childhood.