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Dutch pull Pfizer vaccine batch after infants die http://www.thegoldenthread.info/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=836 |
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Author: | Shady Groves [ Sat Nov 07, 2009 12:54 pm ] |
Post subject: | Dutch pull Pfizer vaccine batch after infants die |
Dutch pull Pfizer vaccine batch after infants die - Infectious diseases- msnbc.com updated 2:02 p.m. ET, Thurs., Nov . 5, 2009 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33671008/ns ... _diseases/ AMSTERDAM - Dutch authorities say they have banned use of a batch of Pfizer's Prevenar, or Prevnar, after three infants died within two weeks of receiving the anti-infection vaccination. "On average about 5 to 10 deaths are reported annually after babies get vaccines," said a spokeswoman for the Dutch health institute RIVM. "We now have three cases in a short period, that is unusual and the reason for suspending the batch." Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here She said RIVM was investigating the cause of the infants' deaths. Other batches of Prevenar, known as Prevnar in the United States, will continue to be used. Pfizer spokeswoman Gwen Fisher said preliminary investigations by the company and health authorities had found no link between the vaccinations and the deaths. 110,000 doses of anti-infection drug She said the company initiated the "quarantine" of the batch which she said contained 110,000 doses of Prevenar, used to prevent pneumonia and related infections. Fisher said the three infants also received two unrelated other vaccines as part of routine immunizations. No other Prevenar batches were suspended and infants in the Netherlands will continue to be vaccinated with it as part of routine immunization, she added. A spokesman for the European Medicines Agency in London said its officials were working with the Dutch authorities to find out if there were any safety issues with the vaccine batch. Click for related content New vaccine offers hope in malaria battle Experts: U.S. should take lead to halt outbreaks Plague death: Researcher dies from infection The vaccine is one of the most widely used in the world and generated sales for U.S. drugmaker Wyeth of $2.7 billion in 2008. Wyeth, which has just been acquired by U.S. rival Pfizer, had asked for the suspension of batch D66977 of Prevenar, RIVM said in a statement. Officials at Pfizer in New York could not immediately be reached for comment. Copyright 2009 Reuters. Click for restrictions. * Discuss Story On Newsvine * Rate Story: View popularLow Rate it 0.5 Rate it 1 Rate it 1.5 Rate it 2 Rate it 2.5 Rate it 3 Rate it 3.5 Rate it 4 Rate it 4.5 Rate it 5 High 4 after 62 ratings * Instant Message New vaccine offers hope in malaria battle Dutch pull Pfizer vaccine batch after infants die New vaccine offers hope in malaria battle Millions die because of high malaria drug prices Experts: U.S. should take lead to halt outbreaks Plague death: Researcher dies from infection Deadly, mosquito-borne disease heads to U.S. Showerheads may be spraying out bacteria 29 hepatitis B cases tied to one N. J. doctor Shots can protect youth from deadly meningitis Drugstores offering seasonal flu shots early Infectious diseases Section Front Add Infectious diseases headlines to your news reader: Add to MyMSNAdd to My Yahoo!Subscribe with Bloglines • More RSS feeds from MSNBC.com Top msnbc.com stories NBC News highlights click to delete |
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