Voluntary Recall of HIB TYPE B Vaccine

Delaware Health and Social Services, Dec 26, 2007

Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH) announced the voluntary recall of 10 lots of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine and two lots of a combination Hib and Hepatitis B vaccine nationwide following an announcement, this week, by the manufacturer- Merck & Co. Inc. Nearly 1 million doses of vaccines distributed starting in April 2007 are being recalled. DPH’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) program received 17,020 doses of Hib vaccine from March to the present. Of this number, 2,250 doses were from the affected lots.

According to the CDC, children who received this vaccine do not need to be revaccinated and the situation does not present a health threat to them - no adverse effects, such as redness and swelling around the injection site, have been reported. However, individual reactions can occur with any vaccine. Parents are advised to contact their health care provider if such a reaction occurs. The recall is a precautionary measure initiated due to the presence of Bacillus cereus bacteria on vaccine manufacturing equipment, during routine testing. No contamination was found in the vaccine doses produced during this time.

Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine prevents meningitis, pneumonia, epiglottitis (a severe throat infection), and other serious infections caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b. In the U.S., it is recommended for all children under 5 years old and is usually given to infants starting at 2 months old.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises health care providers to immediately discontinue use of any of the affected lots and follow Merck's instructions for returning recalled the vaccines. The VFC program will promptly contact providers who ordered these vaccines to inform them of the recall and the next steps. As a result of this recall, health care providers who only use Merck Hib vaccines may have reduced supplies, depending on when it was manufactured.

For the rest of this recall please visit dhss.delaware.gov.