Vaccine Shortage Leaves Children At Risk
Posted on: Friday, 21 November 2008, 07:35 CST
On Thursday, U.S. health officials asked doctors to be on alert for cases of meningitis caused by Hib bacteria in the midst of a continuing vaccine shortage.
According to Mike Jackson, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials are concerned about meningitis and sepsis, both bloodstream infections caused by Hib. Children under the age of 5 who contract the infection can be at high risk of serious complications or even death.
Before vaccines, Hib was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis, an infection that causes inflammation of tissue surrounding the spinal cord and brain.
Last year, Merck & Co Inc recalled their Hib vaccines because of questions over the sterility of their production equipment. Initially, the company expected vaccines to be available late this year, but in October they announced that they will not be available until the middle of next year.
Hib vaccines made by Sanofi Pasteur remain available, but the lack of Merck vaccines has led the CDC to ask doctors to postpone the normal Hib vaccine booster for children 12-15 months.
The current supply of vaccines still allows for primary vaccines, given at 2, 4, and 6 months, to be administered.
The vaccine shortage leaves some children vulnerable to the disease.
According to Jackson, the CDC has asked doctors to notify local health departments if cases of Hib related diseases appear in children.
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Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
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