FDA APPROVES MERCK'S COMBINATION VACCINE PROQUAD

The FDA has approved Merck's biologics license application for Proquad, a combination vaccine for simultaneous vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) and varicella (chickenpox) in children 12 months to 12 years of age. Proquad combines two of Merck's previously approved vaccines -- Varivax, which guards against chickenpox, and MMRII, a combination vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. Merck said Proquad is the only approved vaccine that takes care of all four childhood diseases in one shot.