Child vaccine shortages over

ATLANTA - The government reported Thursday that shortages of two childhood vaccines -- one to protect against measles, mumps and rubella and a second to fight diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough -- are over. <br> <br> Both vaccines have been in short supply since 2000 as some drug companies dropped out of the market and others slowed production to upgrade their facilities or fix manufacturing problems. <br> <br> But supplies of the shots -- commonly called the MMR and DTP vaccines -- are now adequate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Health officials had expected the shortfalls to be corrected this summer. <br> <br> Parents are supposed to get MMR shots for their children at 12 to 15 months and again at four to six years. During the shortage, the CDC recommended deferring the second shot. <br> <br> The DTP vaccine is usually given to children in five doses over their first four to six years. The CDC had suggested parents defer the fourth and fifth doses while supplies were low. <br> <br> The CDC announced the end of the shortage in a bulletin to doctors Thursday, urging them to resume the normal vaccine schedules for their patients. But the agency is not yet recommending special ``recall&#39;&#39; programs, in which doctors urge parents to bring their children in to make up shots they missed.

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