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Nine days after the recall of a crucial baby vaccine (Hib) made by Merck, the only other U.S. supplier of the shots said that it expects to be able to provide enough to cover U.S. demand for the first half of 2008.

On December 12, Merck said it was recalling 1.2 million doses of the vaccine, which protects against Haemophilus influenza type B. The virus, which is different than the flu, can cause meningitis, pneumonia, and other serious infections, resulting in brain damage, deafness, and death in some infants.

At this time Sanofi Pasteur officials declined to say how many doses that would total. They said the company, part of drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis SA, is still determining whether it will be able to boost production of the Hib vaccine or shift some supply to the U.S.

The company said some physicians may see sporadic shortages and that it is still determining how much vaccine it can provide. In a typical year, roughly 14 million doses are administered in the U.S.

Merck recalled the 1.2 million doses and said it would not be able to supply any more until at least next fall because of a sterility problem at its West Point, Pennsylvania, manufacturing plant. It also quarantined nearly a year's worth of other possible suspect doses.

Merck said the chances of individual vaccines being contaminated were low and that at worst, a child would have experienced swelling and redness at the injection site.

Fears of a prolonged shortage of the vaccine led doctors to over order it from Sanofi Pasteur, particularly those who saw their Hib vaccine stock wiped out by the recall. Sanofi Pasteur has been telling doctors to only order a reasonable monthly supply.

Officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instructed medical professionals to defer giving the booster for the time being, as the American Academy of Pediatrics has advised its 60,000 members.

That change allowed Sanofi Pasteur to predict that its supply would cover demand through the first half of 2008.

Reference:

"Sanofi Pasteur says it can meet vaccine needs after Merck recall for first half of 2008," AP, December 2007.