Meningitis vaccine for babies recalled over contamination fears

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5807660.ece


Novartis, which manufactures the vaccine in Italy, said it had discovered traces of Staphylococcus Aureus in the aluminium hydroxide solvent in which the vaccine is suspended, during tests on other vials - made at the same time - which had as an experiment been sent by air, rather than by road as they were to Britain. The Staphylococcus Aureus bacterium is associated with blood poisoning and skin infections.

The Novartis press office was reportedly made aware of the issue on Monday. Nonetheless it was Tuesday before the company s contacted the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), admitting to the problems and saying it wished to recall the rest of the vaccine. The MHRA issued a drug alert to pharmacies at 6.30pm last night, more than 48 hours later

http://www.novartisvaccines.com/
Basel, January 15, 2009 -- Novartis announced today that the US Department of Health and Human Services, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (HHS, BARDA) has awarded Novartis Vaccines a contract for up to USD 486 million over eight years to support the design, construction, validation, and licensing of U.S. cell-based influenza vaccine manufacturing facilities in Holly Springs, North Carolina, to provide a pre-pandemic supply of influenza vaccine and to provide the capacity to manufacture 150 million doses of pandemic vaccine within six months of declaration of an influenza pandemic.
"I am delighted that Novartis Vaccines' facilities in Holly Springs