Kadena copes with Hib vaccine shortage

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique Perez
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AB, Japan --  A shortage of the Haemophilus Influenzae Type B vaccine has resulted in a PACAF-wide wait list for children to be administered the vaccination, but Kadena officials are reassuring parents that the shortage does not present an imminent health risk. 

The shortage began in December 2007 when the manufacturer, Merck & Co., Inc., recalled specific lots of the vaccine as a precautionary measure because of concerns about their sterility. Production of the vaccine was suspended and distribution is not expected to resume until this fall. 

According to Merck, no contamination of the vaccine has been detected, and those children who received the Hib vaccine from the recalled lots do not require revaccination or any special follow-up. 

The Hib vaccine protects infants and young children from bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, epiglottitis (severe throat swelling), and infections of the blood, joints, bones, and subsequently, death. A child can get Hib disease by being around carriers or other children or adults who may have the bacteria and don't know it. 

"Before the Hib vaccine, about 20,000 children in the United States suffered from severe Hib-related diseases each year," said Staff Sgt. Ronna Cabello, NCO in charge of the Allergy and Immunizations Department at the Kadena Clinic. 

"Hib disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis among children under five years old in United States until the vaccination," he added. 

The National Network for Immunization Information states that the Hib vaccine is administered to children at two months, four months, and six months with a booster shot in between 12 and 15 months. 

According to Kadena pediatrician, Dr. (Capt.) Sandy Yip, the clinic's focus right now is on providing Hib vaccines to completely unvaccinated children two months of age or older. Those children who have received their initial two-month Hib vaccine shots will receive subsequent shots as soon as Hib vaccines supplies are replenished toward the end of the year. 

There is one exception; higher-risk children -- such as those with asplenia, sickle cell disease, HIV, or other immune syndromes, or those who are Alaskan or Native American -- will still receive their 12- to15-month booster shots on schedule as long as supplies are available. 

In some cases, the Kadena Pediatric Clinic has been substituting Hib Vaccine with a combination vaccine known as COMVAX, which is a combination of the Hepatitis B and Hib vaccines. 

"This combination vaccine is equally as effective as isolated Hib vaccine, said Dr. Yip."
Medical officials urge parents to keep their children's routine medical checkups and make sure they receive all other vaccines as scheduled. 

"As with most infections," said Dr. Yip, "the signs and symptoms [of Hib] we're concerned about include fevers with headaches, vomiting, neck stiffness, fevers lasting longer than 5-7 days, difficulty breathing, drooling, laying around and refusing to drink, and fever and cough without other symptoms." 

Military health care providers say there is no reason for heightened concern and no adverse outcomes are anticipated due to the shortage of Hib vaccine. Antibiotics are available to treat Hib if infections do occur. 

For more information, please visit the Center for Disease Control's Web site at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/recalls/hib-recall-faqs or call the Kadena Immunizations clinic at 630-4415.