Merck Recall of Vaccines Needed to Protect Children against Meningitis and Pneumonia

Karen Gatlin

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Merck recalled its flu vaccine when inspectors found bacterial contamination in its manufacturing process. The vaccine protects against infection with a bacteria that causes meningitis and pneumonia. The public has been assured that it was the manufacturing equipment which was found to be contaminated, not the vaccine itself, and that Merck decided to recall the vaccine only as a precaution. The recall comes at a time when New Jersey has mandated vaccines for public school children and New York is heavily promoting such vaccines. Experts maintain that the vaccines should be given to prevent serious illness (meningitis, pneumonia, blood infections) in young children.

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