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CDC 'very confident' in H1N1 vaccine, despite recall

Category: Infectious Diseases

Sanofi Pasteur, the manufacturer of the H1N1 vaccine distributed in the U.S., announced a recall of about 800,000 doses of their product, after testing of retained batch samples revealed that their potency did not meet standard levels.

According to the company's spokesman Len Lavenda, testing showed that the potency of the doses in question, which were intended for young children between the ages of 6 months and 35 months, was about 12 percent less potent than the required levels, CNN.com reports.

A statement by the CDC concluded, "the vaccine in these lots is still expected to be effective in stimulating a protective response despite this slight reduction in concentration of antigen. There is no need to re-administer a dose to those who received vaccine from these lots."

Since the vaccines were first approved for distribution, health officials had recommended that children younger than 10 years old receive a second inoculation one month after their initial shot, according to the Washington Post.

Tom Skinner, a CDC spokesman, told CNN the agency is "very confident" that children who received the recalled vaccine are "properly protected," provided they receive the second vaccination.