Only 3,000 of those units were in warehouses, however, as the remainder had been administered when the drug was still at full potency. Those who already received the vaccine do not need to be vaccinated again as the drug was effective at the time of use. The company has recommended that all remaining units marked with expirations dates between Jan. 19 and Jan. 26, 2010, not be administered. All vaccine-producing companies check their drugs for effectiveness at regular intervals.
“The doses were well within potency specifications at the time of distribution,” Tor Constantino, an AstraZeneca spokesman, told Reuters.
On Dec. 15, Sanofi-Aventis recalled 800,000 units of its pediatric H1N1 vaccine for similar reasons. Antigen, the virus component in the vaccine, had atrophied to an extent that made the vaccine less effective.
Reuters also reported that the MedImmune recall was not for safety issues, but to inform health-care providers who have some of the vaccine left over not to administer it. Using the drug would bear no ill effects on the patient, but would not adequately immunize them from the virus.
Dr. Anne Schuchat told Reuters on Tuesday that 111 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have been made available through this point in the flu season.
According to Schuchat, H1N1 infections have decreased throughout the country; however it is still the most widespread strain of flu circulating today.
While concern over the disease has deflated, Schuchat reiterated that it’s crucial that the nation does not forget about the threat as there is no way to eliminate possible resurgence.
“Coverage was about twice as high in children as it was in adults,” she said. “That’s really good news because usually with seasonal flu there’s a lot more vaccination of adults, including seniors, than children. But with the H1N1 vaccine we were targeting children because they have been so hard hit by the virus.”
Earlier in the flu season, reports circled of the lack of H1N1 vaccine. Schuchat said, however, that despite Wednesday’s recall, the vaccine supply is plentiful and now is a good time for those not yet vaccinated to do so.
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