Japanese health authorities have pulled two vaccines from use while investigating whether four infant deaths this month are connected to the shots. All four children, ranging from roughly six months to under two years old, died within a three-day window in early March after receiving injections.
The suspended products are Pfizer's Prevenar and ActHIB, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, both used to guard against pneumonia and meningitis. Some of the infants had pre-existing conditions; others did not. A fifth case, involving a child who died in November after a second ActHIB dose, is also under review.
Together, the two vaccines have been given to an estimated 1.5 million children across Japan since becoming available roughly two years ago. Officials plan to convene an expert panel to examine a potential connection between the deaths and the immunizations.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2011, in its own words.