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Japan suspends pneumococcal, Hib vaccines
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Two pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine were suspended in Japan after a possible association with four infant deaths in the country. Health department officials are currently investigating a causal link.
As of March 6, the Department of Health in Hong Kong has no record of any adverse events reported in association with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevnar, Wyeth), but will inform all medical practitioners of the incident in Japan and request to bring up any anomaly detected, according to officials.
“The [Department of Health] is aware of the news and is concerned, especially because pneumococcal vaccination is in Hong Kong’s childhood immunization program since 2009,” a spokesman from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s Department of Health said in a press release.
“We will be in touch with our Japanese counterpart for details. The Department of Health has already got in contact with Pfizer which will clarify the local stock situation of its two pneumococcal vaccines and their origins, besides liaising with its head office for further information on the Japanese situation. For clarification, Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination (ActHIB, Sanofi-Pasteur) is not in Hong Kong’s childhood immunization program,” the spokesman said in a press release.
Prevnar recipients should contact their health care providers if they are unsure or feel unwell, according to the Department of Public Health. For updated information, visit www.dh.gov.hk/eindex.html.
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