U.S. health officials asked doctors on
Thursday to be alert for possible cases of meningitis and other illnesses in
children caused by Hib bacteria amid an ongoing vaccine shortage.
Officials are most concerned about bacterial meningitis and sepsis, a
bloodstream infection, caused by Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) in children
under age 5 because of the high risk of death or serious complications, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiologist Mike Jackson said.
Meningitis is the inflammation of the tissue surrounding the brain and
spinal cord, and can be caused by viral or bacterial infections. Before the
vaccines, Hib was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis.
Merck & Co Inc last year recalled its Hib vaccines because production
equipment may not have been properly sterilized. Merck initially said the
PedvaxHIB and COMVAX vaccines would return to the U.S. market late this year,
but in October said they would not do so until mid-2009.
Hib vaccine made by Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of
Sanofi-Aventis, remains available. But because of the absence of the Merck
vaccines, the CDC has asked doctors to postpone the routine Hib vaccine booster
doses typically given at age 12- to 15 months until the vaccine supply improves.
Because of the Sanofi supply, Jackson said there is enough vaccine to
give children the primary vaccine series -- doses at 2, 4 and 6 months of age --
but not the booster doses.
With the vaccine shortage, children who otherwise might be fully
protected against Hib could be vulnerable. Jackson said the CDC wants doctors to
notify local health departments if they come across cases of Hib disease in
children and get a clinical specimen for confirmation of the illness.
(Editing by Vicki Allen) Keywords: MENINGITIS USA/VACCINE
(will.dunham@reuters.com; +1-202-898-8300, Reuters Messaging:
will.dunham.reuters.com@reuters.net)
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