1000s of doses of kids H1N1 vaccine recalled

[cathryn]

they say nothing to worry about.

ATLANTA (Dec. 15) -- Hundreds of thousands of swine flu shots for children have been recalled because tests indicate the vaccine doses lost some strength, government health officials said Tuesday.

The recall is for about 800,000 pre-filled syringes intended for children ages 6 months to nearly 3 years. The shots, made by Sanofi Pasteur, were distributed across the country last month, and most have already been used, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Doctors were notified of the voluntary recall Tuesday. Dr. Anne Schuchat, a CDC flu expert, said parents don't need to do anything or to worry. The vaccine is still safe, she said.

George Frey, Getty Images
A nurse gives a child the H1N1 vaccine in October. About 800,000 syringes filled with the vaccine for children ages 6 months to nearly 3 years have been recalled because they were too weak.
The issue is the vaccine's strength. Tests done before the shots were shipped showed the vaccines were strong enough. But tests done weeks later indicated the strength had fallen slightly below required levels. Why the potency dropped isn't clear.

Children in that age group are supposed to get two doses, spaced about a month apart. Health officials don't think children need to get vaccinated again, even if they got two doses from the same lots, Schuchat said.

Swine flu vaccine has been available since early October, and since then manufacturers have released about 95 million doses for distribution in the United States.

The recalled shots were made by Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of France-based Sanofi-Aventis Group. The company reported the potency findings to the government officials and did a voluntary recall. A Sanofi Pasteur representative could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

Sanofi Pasteur bills itself as the No. 1 manufacturer of flu vaccines in the world. It makes flu vaccine at sites in France and in Pennsylvania.

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