Pathfinder
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<TABLE style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top></TD><TD vAlign=top align=left>1 hour 26 min 58 sec ago
VT health officials not concerned over H1N1 vaccine recall
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(NECN: Anya Huneke, Burlington, VT) - Vermont health officials say there is no need for alarm after a manufacturer of H1N1 vaccines announced a large voluntary recall of 800,000 doses for children.
At a press briefing Tuesday at the Vermont Health Department in Burlington, the state epidemiologist for infectious diseases Patsy Kelso delivered a message of reassurance:
"It's important to know that this is not a safety recall. There's no safety concern with the vaccine."
The vaccine is for the H1N1 virus. A major manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur - announced a voluntary recall Tuesday of 800,000 single doses for children ages 6 months to 3 years.
In ongoing, routine testing of the vaccine, the company found four distributed lots had lost some of their potency.
Patsy: "I'm not sure why they lost potency, but this happens from time to time."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, the drop in potency is small, and won't significantly change the effectiveness of the vaccine for kids.
William "It's a really small difference... it's not as if it's a 50% reduction-- it's a tiny difference."
Health officials say at least 600 of the doses came to Vermont- and thousands to New England. Once it's determined where exactly those doses ended up, it will be up to the individual providers to decide how to move forward with their patients.
Patsy "It's up to the doctors. Some may not decide to let their patients
know. It's a voluntary recall- there's no action required."
Dr. William Raszka, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Fletcher Allen Health Care - says while the recall may seem large, the implications are not.
William "In terms of what's going to happen with the public and individual children- essentially nothing."
Since the loss of potency of the vaccines is only slight - and the availability of the vaccine limited, he expects many doctors to continue to administer the doses.
And he advises parents not to flood pediatricians' offices with calls- since the doses in question are still safe and effective, and don't need to be readministered.
William "I think a lot of people will continue to use it, to be honest with you."
Health officials still encourage those at higher risk - including children - to get the h1n1 vaccine...
And those who have already- not to worry about this development.
Video link:
http://necn.com/Boston/Health/2009/12/15/VT-health-officials-not/1260926993.html
VT health officials not concerned over H1N1 vaccine recall
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
(NECN: Anya Huneke, Burlington, VT) - Vermont health officials say there is no need for alarm after a manufacturer of H1N1 vaccines announced a large voluntary recall of 800,000 doses for children.
At a press briefing Tuesday at the Vermont Health Department in Burlington, the state epidemiologist for infectious diseases Patsy Kelso delivered a message of reassurance:
"It's important to know that this is not a safety recall. There's no safety concern with the vaccine."
The vaccine is for the H1N1 virus. A major manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur - announced a voluntary recall Tuesday of 800,000 single doses for children ages 6 months to 3 years.
In ongoing, routine testing of the vaccine, the company found four distributed lots had lost some of their potency.
Patsy: "I'm not sure why they lost potency, but this happens from time to time."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, the drop in potency is small, and won't significantly change the effectiveness of the vaccine for kids.
William "It's a really small difference... it's not as if it's a 50% reduction-- it's a tiny difference."
Health officials say at least 600 of the doses came to Vermont- and thousands to New England. Once it's determined where exactly those doses ended up, it will be up to the individual providers to decide how to move forward with their patients.
Patsy "It's up to the doctors. Some may not decide to let their patients
know. It's a voluntary recall- there's no action required."
Dr. William Raszka, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Fletcher Allen Health Care - says while the recall may seem large, the implications are not.
William "In terms of what's going to happen with the public and individual children- essentially nothing."
Since the loss of potency of the vaccines is only slight - and the availability of the vaccine limited, he expects many doctors to continue to administer the doses.
And he advises parents not to flood pediatricians' offices with calls- since the doses in question are still safe and effective, and don't need to be readministered.
William "I think a lot of people will continue to use it, to be honest with you."
Health officials still encourage those at higher risk - including children - to get the h1n1 vaccine...
And those who have already- not to worry about this development.
Video link:
http://necn.com/Boston/Health/2009/12/15/VT-health-officials-not/1260926993.html