4 in 1 Vaccine Ups Child Seizure Risk!!! - webmd.com
4-in-1 Vaccine Ups Child Seizure Risk Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Chickenpox Vaccine Doubles Febrile Seizure Risk By Daniel J. DeNoon WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Feb. 26, 2008 -- ProQuad, Merck's 4-in-1 measles - mumps -rubella-chickenpox vaccine, doubles children's seizure risk compared with two separate MMR and chickenpox shots. Even at twice the risk, 12- to 23-month-old children who get the vaccine have only a 1 in 2,000 higher chance of having a febrile seizure -- convulsions brought on by fever -- than those getting two separate shots. Moreover, most U.S. children never had a chance to get the new 4-in-1 MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) vaccine. Production problems have limited U.S. distribution. ProQuad won't be widely available before 2009, although some clinics may have a supply in hand. A CDC safety study among children aged 12 to 23 months detected a cluster of cases of febrile seizure seven to 10 days after vaccination. The recommended age fo...