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Suspension of pneumococcal, Hib vaccines continues in Japan

After the suspension of the two pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine in Japan earlier in the week, an expert panel convened by the country's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported no association between the four infant deaths and the vaccines. However, officials are calling for further studies to assess the situation.

As of March 9, the Department of Health in Hong Kong reported no record of any adverse events in association with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Prevnar, Wyeth), but said they will inform all medical practitioners of the incident in Japan and request to bring up any anomaly detected.

In Hong Kong, Prevenar has been used by both public and private health care providers since 2009, according to a Department of Health press release. However, the health department has replaced Prevenar with GlaxoSmithKline's Synflorix since October 2010 - except for the Pneumococcal Vaccination Catch-Up Program still ongoing until the end of March.

Autopsy of a 4-month old who received vaccination with the diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (DTaP-IPV) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine back in January 2010 indicated evidence of respiratory tract infection, but the cause of death could not be determined. The spokesman for the department of health said that the department's pharmacovigilance system has not found similar reports in other jurisdictions, but most are monitoring the development.

"Taking all available facts into account, the department of health reckons that the local situation should remain status quo although its alertness is definitely heightened," a spokesman said in a press release. "Any time when health care workers are suspicious, they should notify the department. In connection, recipients of the vaccines ought to contact their health care providers whenever they have doubts or do not feel well."

For updated information, visit www.dh.gov.hk/eindex.html.

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