Common Infant Vaccine Recalled
Dec 13th, 2007 by Lilian
WEDNESDAY, Dec.12 (HealthDay News) — Merck & Co. has recalled 1.2 million doses of a common childhood vaccine due to potential contamination during the manufacturing process. But, the vaccine does not pose a health threat, U.S. health officials announced Wednesday.The company voluntarily recalled two lots of the Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine . Haemophilus influenzae is a group of bacteria that may cause different types of infections in infants and children. They include ear, eye, or sinus infections and pneumonia. The more serious but rare strain can cause meningitis and a life-threatening infection called epiglottitis.
The Hib vaccine is recommended for all children under 5 and is usually given in a three-shot series, starting at 2 months of age.
(full story on Forbes)