A manufacturer of the H1N1 flu vaccine Tuesday issued a voluntary recall of specified batches of the pediatric preservative-free vaccine for use in children under 3 years.
The recall was due to a slight loss in vaccine strength over time.
Long Beach Health Department officials recently received some of the vaccine, and had administered approximately 20 doses through H1N1 flu vaccine clinic appointments last week, officials disclosed.
Remaining vaccine from the implicated batch is being returned to the manufacturer, identified as Sanofi-Pasteur.
Community medical providers have also been alerted of this issue.
Federal authorities have indicated that at no time were children at risk of injury or illness from this vaccine due to this finding, and are not recommending any revaccination of children who received this vaccine. The slight decrease in strength of this vaccine is unlikely to lead to inadequate protection from H1N1, health officials advised.
"Parents whose children may have received this H1N1 flu vaccine should not be concerned. If their children have received only one dose of the vaccine, a second dose is indicated 3-4 weeks after the first," said Dr. Helene Calvet, city health officer.
For more information, visit the CDC website at: www.cdc.ogv/h1n1flu/vaccination/syringes_qa.htm.
Due to the recall, the Health Department will not be providing any pediatric preservative-free vaccine at this time. Pediatric doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine with preservative are available, as is the live virus (nasal) vaccine, which can be given to healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 49. The Health Department is providing H1N1 flu vaccine to priority groups by appointment, which may be scheduled by calling (562) 570-4103, 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Vaccines will continue to be provided free of charge due to the availability of federal grant funding to support this effort. H1N1 flu vaccine will continue to be provided to persons in one of the following categories:
-- All individuals between the age of 6 months and 24 years.
-- Caretakers and household members of infants under 6 months of age
-- Health care workers with direct patient care
-- Pregnant women
-- Adults from 25 to 64 year of age with a high risk medical condition (such as lung disease, diabetes, etc).
Note that individuals 65 years of age or older are not eligible to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine at this time. Once the vaccine manufacturers are able to provide ample H1N1 flu vaccine supplies, the profile of individuals who may be able to receive the vaccine will be expanded.
In order for all of us to continue the fight to prevent flu, the Health Department also recommends that everyone practice healthy habits to prevent from getting or transmitting the flu:
-- Wash hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer frequently,
-- Avoid close contact with people who are sick,
-- Stay home from work or school if you are sick,
-- Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze,
-- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and
-- Eat healthy food, drink plenty of water, take vitamins, exercise, get plenty of rest, do not smoke, and avoid alcoholic beverages.
More information is available on the Health Department's website at
http://www.longbeach.gov//health, or the Public Health Information line at (562) 570-4499.
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