Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Update: Recalled H1N1 vaccine was distributed in Iowa
Updated 12:17 pm
By TONY LEYS ? tleys@dmreg.com ? December 15, 2009
Iowa was among the states that distributed pediatric H1N1 flu vaccine that is being recalled, state officials said today.
Iowa received about 28,600 doses of the 800,000 doses in question, the Iowa Department of Public Health said.
The recall is being sparked by concerns that the vaccine lost some of its potency. Officials said there are no safety concerns with the vaccine.
Don Callaghan, who oversees vaccine issues for the health department, said most of the Iowa doses in question were delivered in mid-November and presumably have been given to children. The rest came in early December, and officials are asking clinics not to use any they have left.
The vaccine, made by Sanofi Pasteur, was delivered in prefilled syringes and was intended for use in children 6 months to 3 years. Health officials have recommended that young children receive two doses of H1N1 vaccine, about a month apart.
Officials are not recommending that children who got the recalled vaccine be given a third dose. Callaghan said tests found that four lots of vaccine were a bit less potent than they were supposed to be. ?It?s a very slight difference,? he said. He said there would be no harm in giving a child a third dose of the vaccine, however.
Callaghan said vaccine lot numbers should be listed on cards that parents were given when their children were vaccinated. If parents don?t have those cards, they could call the clinics where their children were vaccinated and ask for the lot numbers. ?That information should be readily available,? he said.
According to a notification from the federal government, the lots in question were marked UT023DA, UT028DA, UT028CB and UTO30CA. The notification said the vaccine passed tests before it was shipped, but subsequent tests found its potency had declined.
Polk County?s health department said it was setting aside 1,025 doses it had in its inventory, and it was asking local clinics to check their stocks.
Callaghan said the state has received a total of 903,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine, most of which could have been used in children. The odds are high that any child who was vaccinated twice received at least one full-strength dose, he said.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091215/NEWS/91215015/1001/
Updated 12:17 pm
By TONY LEYS ? tleys@dmreg.com ? December 15, 2009
Iowa was among the states that distributed pediatric H1N1 flu vaccine that is being recalled, state officials said today.
Iowa received about 28,600 doses of the 800,000 doses in question, the Iowa Department of Public Health said.
The recall is being sparked by concerns that the vaccine lost some of its potency. Officials said there are no safety concerns with the vaccine.
Don Callaghan, who oversees vaccine issues for the health department, said most of the Iowa doses in question were delivered in mid-November and presumably have been given to children. The rest came in early December, and officials are asking clinics not to use any they have left.
The vaccine, made by Sanofi Pasteur, was delivered in prefilled syringes and was intended for use in children 6 months to 3 years. Health officials have recommended that young children receive two doses of H1N1 vaccine, about a month apart.
Officials are not recommending that children who got the recalled vaccine be given a third dose. Callaghan said tests found that four lots of vaccine were a bit less potent than they were supposed to be. ?It?s a very slight difference,? he said. He said there would be no harm in giving a child a third dose of the vaccine, however.
Callaghan said vaccine lot numbers should be listed on cards that parents were given when their children were vaccinated. If parents don?t have those cards, they could call the clinics where their children were vaccinated and ask for the lot numbers. ?That information should be readily available,? he said.
According to a notification from the federal government, the lots in question were marked UT023DA, UT028DA, UT028CB and UTO30CA. The notification said the vaccine passed tests before it was shipped, but subsequent tests found its potency had declined.
Polk County?s health department said it was setting aside 1,025 doses it had in its inventory, and it was asking local clinics to check their stocks.
Callaghan said the state has received a total of 903,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine, most of which could have been used in children. The odds are high that any child who was vaccinated twice received at least one full-strength dose, he said.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20091215/NEWS/91215015/1001/