The withdrawal of Zostavax from the shingles market is complicating the calculation of the National Immunization Program.

In the government's 'National Immunization Program Priorities' study, there had been a large gap between the priorities of live and recombinant shingles vaccines, but with the number of live shingles vaccine options being reduced to one, the need for more options has increased considerations.

In late May, MSD Korea reported to the MFDS the discontinuation of its shingles vaccine, Zostavax. The final stock-out date is difficult to predict, but the discontinuation will bring to an end a nearly 15-year run of the drug since its approval in April 2009.