Vaccine deaths spark concern

Vaccine deaths spark concern

• Source: Global Times
• [09:24 March 10 2011]
• Comments

By Yang Jie

Parents in Beijing expressed concern over two pediatric vaccines after they were suspended in Japan due to possible links to the death of five infants, whose cases are still under investigation.

"I am very worried about the safety of the two vaccines after learning about their suspension in Japan," said Liu Li, whose 5-month-old baby was vaccinated with both.

"Now I'm torn whether I should let them give my daughter follow-up injections."

The Japanese health ministry decided to halt the use of two vaccines, Prevenar by US-based Pfizer, and ActHIB by Sanofi-Aventis, both widely used for the prevention of pneumonia and meningitis, following the death of five infants who received the vaccinations, according to AFP.

The ministry said in a statement issued Tuesday that three infants had preexisting medical conditions before receiving the vaccinations.

The vaccines are also widely used in Beijing, as both Prevenar and ActHIB are listed as recommended vaccines in a pamphlet issued by the Municipal Health Bureau, Liu told the Global Times.

Prevenar costs about 860 yuan ($131) per injection, while ActHIB costs 100 yuan. Four injections are required to complete a vaccination, according to Liu.

Beijing health authorities have not shown any signs of suspending the two drugs as of Wednesday.

An employee from the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told the Beijing News Tuesday that no abnormal cases have been reported in Beijing regarding the two vaccines, and they would "keep a close watch on the matter."

Neither the Beijing CDC nor the health bureau responded to the reporter's inquiry.

Yi Qing from the vaccine department of Sanofi-Aventis China told the Global Times that no serious adverse reactions to ActHIB have occurred since the vaccine entered Chinese market in 1996 and further distribution should not be affected.