 Condition
on Arrival
- Vaccine should be frozen.
- Click here to see an image of the shipping carton.
- Before reconstitution, store the lyophilized
vaccine in a freezer at an
average temperature of –15°C (+5°F) or colder.
- Any freezer (eg, chest, frost-free) that
reliably maintains an average
temperature of –15°C and has a
separate sealed freezer door is
acceptable for storing the vaccine.
- May be stored at refrigerator temperature
(2°C – 8°C, 36°F – 46°F)
for
up to 72 continuous hours prior to reconstitution. Vaccine stored at
2°C – 8°C (36°F – 46°F) that is not used within
72 hours of removal from
–
15°C storage should be discarded.
- Before reconstitution, protect from light.
- The diluent should be stored separately
at room temperature
(20°C – 25°C, 68°F – 77°F), or in the refrigerator.
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- DO NOT FREEZE reconstituted
vaccine.
- Parenteral drug products should
be inspected visually for extraneous
particulate matter and discoloration
prior to administration, whenever
solution and container permit.
The vaccine when reconstituted
is a clear,
colorless-to-pale-yellow liquid.
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Indications and Dosing
VARIVAX is indicated for vaccination against varicella in individuals 12
months of age and older.
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Children 12 months to 12 years of age should receive a 0.5-mL dose
administered subcutaneously; if a second 0.5-mL dose is administered, it should
be given a minimum of 3 months later.
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Adolescents and adults 13 years of age and older should receive a
0.5-mL
dose administered subcutaneously at elected date and a second 0.5-mL dose 4 to
8
weeks later.1 |
Select Safety Information
VARIVAX is contraindicated in certain individuals, including those with a history
of hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine, including gelatin; a history
of anaphylactoid reaction to neomycin; blood dyscrasias, leukemia, lymphomas
of any type, or other malignant neoplasms affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic
systems; an immunodeficient condition or receiving immunosuppressive therapy;
active, untreated tuberculosis; active febrile illness; or those who are pregnant.
Before administering VARIVAX, please read the Prescribing
Information and
Patient
Product Information.
General Tips
- Vaccine should be frozen. If you have questions
about the condition of the vaccine at the time of
delivery, you should immediately place vaccine in
recommended storage and call the Merck
Vaccine Customer Center at 1-877-VAX-MERCK (1-877-829-6372); or call the CDC
at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
- When supplied, diluent should be stored
separately at room temperature (20°C – 25°C,
68°F – 77°F) or in the refrigerator.
- Rotate stock so that the
earliest-dated vaccine is used first.4
- Ensure that the refrigerator is plugged
into an outlet in a protected area where it cannot
be disconnected accidentally. Dormitory style freezers
are
not acceptable for the storage of varicella vaccine.4
- It is important to
use a separate sterile syringe and needle for each
individual patient to prevent transmission of hepatitis
and other infectious agents
from one person to another.
- Needles should be disposed of properly and
should not be recapped.5
- All vaccines must be discarded after the expiration
date; expired or damaged Vaccines for Children
(VFC) vaccines must be returned to your
State Immunization
Program.
- For vaccines that require reconstitution with diluent,
use only the diluent supplied.
Click here for a demonstration of reconstitution
with diluent.
- For general questions concerning the
proper storage and handling of Merck vaccines,
please contact
the Merck Vaccine Customer Center at
1-800-MERCK-90
(1-800-637-2590),
Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm ET.
|
Condition
on Arrival
