HIB Recall - Flu Shots Recalled

The HIB Recall has been announced due to an issue with the sterilization of the flu shots.

From newsday.com:

About 1 million doses of two types of childhood vaccines are being voluntarily recalled by Merck & Co. because of possible microbial contamination, and will result in a serious vaccine shortage, health officials said yesterday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the company announced the recall late yesterday involving 11 lots of the PedvaxHIB vaccine and two lots of the COMVAX vaccine. Both provide protection against Hemophilus influenzae type B, a bacterium that can cause a serious form of pneumonia, and a condition called bacterial meningitis. Both vaccines are often popularly referred to as the Hib shot. All affected lots were manufactured after April.

Merck decided to recall the vaccines after tests at its Pennsylvania manufacturing plant revealed a malfunction in the sterilization process.

If your child recently had a flu shot, call your doctor to see if the HIB vaccine was part of the recall.