Merck Recalls 1 Million Doses Of Childhood Vaccine

Merck & Co. (MRK) is recalling about 1 million doses of a childhood vaccine used to protect against meningitis, pneumonia and other serious illnesses after the company found a sterilization problem in the manufacturing plant where the vaccine is made.

Julie Gerberding, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, said the recall affects certain lots of the so-called Hib vaccine shipped after April 2007. However, she said there's no health threat to children who may have received the recalled vaccine. Merck is one of two providers of the Hib vaccine, which is given to children in three doses that typically begin with two-month- old infants.