Merck recalls infant vaccine

A potential contamination during the manufacturing process has caused Merck & Co. to recall a common infant vaccine, reports Forbes.

1.2 million doses of the Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine were recalled by the drug company, and U.S. health officials said on Wednesday that the vaccine does not pose a health risk. Haemophilus influenzae is a group bacteria that may cause different infections in children, such as eye, ear or sinus infections or pneumonia.

So far there have been no adverse effects with Hib vaccine., U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Forbes.

According to the CDC, there were 20,000 cases of Hib diseases in the U.S. each year, before the Hib vaccine. Since the vaccine, there are fewer than 100 documented cases.Forbes reports the vaccine is made by both Merck and Sanofi Pasteur. Merck recalled PedvaxHIB and Comvax shipped after April 2007.

It is unknown how many children have received the vaccine, but the CDC told Forbes that children who received the vaccine are not at risk of any health problems. The recall may cause a shortage ofHib vaccine, but the CDC does not expect an increase in illness since so many children have been vaccinated.

According to the CDC, parents whose children were recently vaccinated against Hib can look for skin bumps or abscesses at the site of the injection, which could indicate a potential problem.