News Release
For Immediate Release: December 17, 2009
Contact Person: Diane Lee, PIO, 301-334-7730
Garrett County Health Department
Vaccine Not Among Recalled Doses
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assures parents that this week's recall of pre-filled syringes of H1N1 flu vaccine for children from 6 months to 3 years old does not require any action for children who received the vaccine.
“We want to assure parents that the Garrett County Health Department did not have any of the H1N1 Vaccine that has been recalled,” said Health Officer Rodney Glotfelty. “However, it's important for parents to understand that according to CDC even if their child received a dose of the recalled vaccine at another location, they do not need to take any action other than to get the recommended second dose if they have not received it already.”
“This is a non-safety-related voluntary recall,” said Glotfelty said. “The manufacture is contacting providers who did receive vaccine from the four batches of vaccine listed in the recall and asking them to return the unused portion.”
The recalled vaccine was manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur and only affected four lots of vaccine packaged in pre-filled syringes for children from 6 months to 3 years old.
Although the lots being recalled had passed all quality controls and met all specifications before they were shipped, the manufacturers routine quality assurance testing found that the potency of four lots had dropped below a pre-specified limit. The vaccine in these lots is still expected to be effective in stimulating a protective response despite this slight reduction in potency.
The Health Department will hold H1N1 flu vaccination clinics for anyone who wants to receive vaccine at their Oakland office on December 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department on December 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are also available for vaccinations at the Oakland Office for various days and times throughout December. All H1N1 flu vaccinations given by the Health Department are free.
For more information about the recall go to http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/syringes_qa.htm . Clinic information is available at the Health Department's website at www.garretthealth.org or the Flu Information Line at 301-334-7697 or 301-895-3113.