You may not have known exactly what it does when your little one was getting it, but the Hib vaccine protects kids against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria — once the leading cause of meningitis in children and a common culprit in a host of other serious diseases. But now, one of the two makers of this routine immunization for infants and toddlers is recalling about 1 million doses of the vaccine, putting the recommended immunization in short supply.
As a precaution, pharmaceutical company Merck has voluntarily pulled some of their Hib vaccines (called PedvaxHIB and COMVAX, a combination vaccine providing protection against Hib and hepatitis B). However, the recalled vaccines, which were shipped after April 2007, pose no health threat and there have been no reports of any adverse symptoms related to the recalled immunization, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Merck decided to recall the vaccine when the company discovered an equipment issue that could potentially cause microorganisms to survive a step in the sterilization process. However, the company hasn't actually found any contaminated vaccines, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But Merck pulled some of the vaccines, just to be on the safe side.
More on the Vaccine
Despite its name, Haemophilus influenzae type B bacteria is not at all related to influenza (the flu) virus, and the Hib vaccine does not protect against the flu — that's an entirely different vaccine altogether.
Besides providing protection against meningitis, the Hib vaccine protects kids from other serious infections like pneumonia, pericarditis (an infection of the membrane covering the heart), and infections of the blood, bones, and joints caused by the bacteria.
What This Means to You
Only some of the vaccines were recalled — many more were not affected at all. If you're concerned that your child may have received one of the recalled vaccine units, contact your doctor. If your child did receive one of the recalled vaccines, it's important to remember that:
- It will still be completely effective at protecting against Hib bacteria. So you won't need to schedule an appointment for another Hib vaccination.
- Any negative side effects from the recalled vaccine — like pus-filled skin bumps or abscesses at the site of the shot — would've happened within a few days to a week of a child receiving the Hib vaccine, says the CDC. Again, though, there have been no reports of any problems in any child.
But if your child was due to receive one of the series of Hib shots, you might need to wait to get that particular immunization until doctors receive a new supply of the vaccine.
Despite this recall, immunizations remain a crucial tool for protecting kids against many serious and potentially deadly diseases during their childhood and beyond. If you have any concerns about the Hib vaccine or any vaccination, be sure to talk to your doctor before making any decision about delaying or skipping an immunization.
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: December 2007
