Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the addition of the intramuscular (IM) route of administration to the United States Product Insert (USPI) for Merck’s MMRV family of vaccines: M-M-RII, VARIVAX, and ProQuad.

While these vaccines have a long history in the U.S., until now they have only been administered via subcutaneous (SC) injection.

“Building on our history of innovation in the world of vaccines, we’re proud to introduce another method of administration for M-M-R®II, VARIVAX®, and ProQuad® vaccines, which have been important in the fight against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in the U.S.,” said Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice president, head of global clinical development and chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories.

With these approvals, healthcare professionals now have the option to choose to administer all routinely recommended injectable pediatric vaccinations included in the CDC immunization schedule, via the same IM route. In the U.S., the only measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines that can be administered IM are M-M-RII, VARIVAX, and ProQuad. Additionally, the MMRV family of vaccines has already been licensed for IM administration in the European Union.

“As a pediatrician who routinely vaccinates children, I am excited to now have the option to administer these vaccines intramuscularly,” said Dr. Todd Wolynn, co-founding pediatrician of Kids Plus Pediatrics. “This approval provides our practice with an additional route of administration.”