Merck & Co., Inc. And Nicaragua Unveil New Rotavirus Vaccine Demonstration Project At Clinton Global Initiative; Merck & Co., Inc. Will Provide Free Rotavirus Vaccine For All Infants Born In Nicaragua Over The Next Three Years, A $75 Million Commitment
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2006--Merck & Co., Inc. and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health today announced plans to conduct a joint project aimed to demonstrate the public health impact of implementing a full rotavirus vaccination program in Nicaragua. Through this project, all infants born in Nicaragua in a three-year period will receive free doses of ROTATEQ(R) (rotavirus vaccine, live, oral, pentavalent), Merck's oral, ready-to-use vaccine to prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants and young children when given in a three-dose series to infants between the ages of six to 32 weeks. In addition to providing ROTATEQ, Merck will also provide technical assistance for the duration of the program.