Vaccine recall leads to delaying Hib booster.

Following a December voluntary recall of Haeomphilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines because of concerns about sterility, federal health officials have advised parents and caregivers to delay scheduled Hib booster shots for 12- to 15-month-olds.

The advisory, published in the Dec. 19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, notes that children at high risk for Hib infection should receive the booster. That includes children with asplenia, sickle cell disease, HIV infection and certain other immunodeficiency syndromes and malignant neoplasms. American Indian and Alaska Native children are also at higher risk for Hib, particularly in the first six months of life. The advisory recommends providers who serve predominantly American Indian and Alaska Native children continue to stock and use Hib vaccines not affected by the recall and stick to the recommended vaccination schedule.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and other partners are continuing to monitor the supply of available Hib vaccines and any reports of Hib infection. As of mid-January, CDC was working with an alternative Hib vaccine manufacturer to ensure supplies were available.

Updates on vaccine supply are available from www. cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/ shortages/default.htm, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has posted information on vaccines affected by the recall at www.fda.gov/consumer/ updates/hib121307.html.