Charlotte, NC – The Mecklenburg County Health Department has received none of the children’s HIB vaccine recalled today by the drug’s manufacturer, Merck and Co.
Ten lots or about one million doses of the PedvaxHIB vaccine have been voluntarily recalled by the company as a precautionary measure after questions of potential contamination were raised. The vaccine offers protection from bacterial meningitis and other invasive bacterial disease among children younger than 5 years of age.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the potential for contamination of any vaccine is low, and if present, the level of contamination would be low. However, because the sterility of these specific lots of vaccine cannot be guaranteed, Merck is conducting this recall.
Important points to note about the recall are:
- Any child vaccinated from one of these lots need not be revaccinated.
- Merck has gotten no reports of abscesses or infection in children who received shots from the lots in question.
- No contamination has been found during any of the sterility tests that have been conducted.
- Check with your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your child’s vaccination. Parents can also call the Merck National Service Center at 1-800-672-6372.
The Health Department currently has plenty of the children’s HIB vaccine on hand and encourages parents to get their children vaccinated.
The vaccine is free of charge. Please call our appointment line at 704-336-6500.
