Prevnar – Infinite Unknown

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s health ministry has halted the use of vaccines made by Pfizer Inc and Sanofi-Aventis SA to prevent meningitis and pneumonia following the deaths of four children.

The infants died shortly after receiving the vaccines and while it was unclear if there was link between the deaths and vaccines, use of Pfizer’s Prevenar and Sanofi’s ActHIB will be suspended while the deaths are investigated, the ministry said in a statement.

A ministry safety panel is scheduled to discuss findings in the investigations on Tuesday.

In February last year health authorities in the Netherlands said no relation was found between Prevenar and the deaths of three infants who had received the vaccine.

Three of the children that died in Japan were administered Prevenar together with ActHIB. In addition, three of the children also received a mixed vaccine against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus on the same day they received the other vaccines.

Vaccine use halted after baby deaths

The Dutch health institute RIVM has stopped the distribution of a batch of Pfizer’s Prevnar childhood vaccine following the death of three babies shortly after being vaccinated.

The vaccine has been labeled ‘do not use’ and and new supplies have been made available to doctors.

The exact cause of the death of the infants is not yet known, the RIVM said. The babies died between one and 11 days after the vaccination.

Japan: Four Infants Die Shortly After Receiving Pfizer, Sanofi Vaccines

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Vaccine use halted after baby deaths