Summer 1996 Volume 1, Number 2		FDA approves Merck's hepatitis A vaccine (Washington) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed Merck & Co. to market its VAQTAĈ (hepatitis A vaccine, inactivated) in the United States. The FDA granted liscensure on March 29, and the vaccine became available for distribution in early May. The vaccine is indicated for active immunization against disease caused by hepatitis A in persons age two years and older. It is indicated for individuals who are or will be at increased risk for infection by HAV, including travelers and people living in areas of higher endemicity for HAV, military personnel, and certain ethnic and geographic populations that experience cyclic HAV epidemics. "VAQTAĈ offers a very real possibility that we will be able to eradicate yet another disease that is of great public health concern," said Gordon Douglas, M.D., president, Merck Vaccine Division. "We have led the way in the past with measles and polio and look forward to the day when no one has to have a concern about hepatitis A." The dosage recommendations for children age two through 17 are a single 25U/0.5 mL dose of vaccine and a booster dose of 25U/0.5 mL six to 18 months later. Adults 18 years and older should receive a single 50U/1.0 mL dose and a 50U/1.0 mL booster six months later.