Merck Recalls Common Child Vaccine!
Thursday, December 13th, 2007
Drugmaker Merck & Co. produces about half of the nation’s annual supply of 14 million doses of Hib vaccine. Merck recalled the lots after this week identifying a sterility problem in a Pennsylvania factory. It said sample vials from the recalled lots, tested before shipment, were not contaminated but the company could not assure sterility of the entire lots.
The Fat Guy had a great blog entry today about the flu vaccine and no sooner as I finished reading it that I came across this article about the Hib vaccine. The recall is more than likely going to magnify the debate over childhood vaccines, their safety and whether too many are required. Some parents are distrustful, like myself and suspect some vaccines of being linked to autism. The mechanism is far from being identified but I believe it to be a genetic trigger of some sort when introduced to some children.
This week, New Jersey, my favorite state, took a controversial step backward in my opinion by becoming the first state to require flu shots for preschoolers after a health advisory board backed new vaccine requirements over opposition from some worried parents.