Drug giant Merck voluntarily recalled one million doses of its Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine because of manufacturing malfunction.
The recall affects 10 lots of the PediaxHIB vaccine and two lots of Comvax, for a total of a million doses. All affected lots were shipped after April 2007.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there is no evidence of contaminated vaccines, or reports of anyone being harmed with use of the suspect vaccines. The recalled vaccines also do not affect potency so there is no need to re-vaccinate children who received shots from the affected lots. However, children who did receive vaccinations must be monitored for reactions like “redness, rash, or bumps.”
The recall will cause serious vaccine shortage in the next few months but this will not have significant public health consequences because “our coverage is so good,” reported Anne Schuchat, M.D., director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. She said that 94% of toddlers are immunized.
[source: medpagetoday]
Tags: Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine, merck, drug, vaccine, Hib, recall, alert
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