HIB Vaccine Shortage

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Story Published: Nov 18, 2008 at 6:42 PM PST

By Melissa Wagner

As a new mom, Mandie worries if her son is getting enough sleep. If he's eating well and is content. And now there's a new worry. "I'm scared he'll get something a vaccination could have prevented." Thaidyn is missing his H-I-B vaccine, which prevents a string of bacterial infections, including one form of meningitis. It's a required immunization, but there's a nationwide shortage. Last December the maker of the vaccine recalled about a million H-I-B vaccine doses because of a possible contamination. That caused a shortage. Doctors are now relying on one manufacturer. "That has not happened at this point and it looks like the shortage will occur through the middle of 2009." So parent's, like Mandie, are left wondering what to do. "If they can't get that vaccination I encourage parents to work with providers because this shortage applies to everyone." "I told them I wanted to know as soon as possible when it came in and when I didn't hear from them after a couple of weeks I continued to call and they were still out as of last week. " Because the HIB vaccine has been around for a while, the health department says the risk of the disease is virtually wiped out here and in other countries strong on immunizations. Point is, don't get scared if your baby has to miss a booster. "
If a child misses the dose at 4 months, he can still get it at 5 or 6 months as soon as that vaccine becomes available." In the meantime, doctors also say to cut exposure to this and other viruses or bacteria, always wash your hands well and frequently throughout the day. In Yakima, Melissa Wagner, Action News.

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