New MMR Vaccine: FDA Approves Priorix®
July 25, 2022 — The FDA has approved Priorix, the first new MMR vaccine approved in the U.S. in 50 years.
On June 6, GlaxoSmithKline announced U.S. approval of Priorix for the prevention of measles, mumps and rubella.
The vaccine is delivered in a 2-dose series, with the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.
Priorix may also be administered as a 2nd dose to people who have previously received the first dose of another MMR-containing vaccine.
The most commonly reported adverse reactions were pain, redness, swelling, loss of appetite, irritability, drowsiness and fever.
Measles has been making a comeback in recent years, partly due to the coronavirus disruption to routine childhood immunizations.
“Outbreaks of measles in recent years demonstrate how quickly diseases can return without widespread immunization. Missed vaccinations during the pandemic makes children even more vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases like measles,” said Temi Folaranmi at GlaxoSmithKline.
Priorix has been sold internationally for 25 years, first in Germany and now in more than 100 countries. It is the first new MMR vaccine in the U.S. in 50 years, where it will compete with Merck’s M-M-R II vaccine.
