CDC, AAFP Recommending Recall of Children in Need of Hib Booster Dose

As the nation's supply of Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, vaccine increases thanks to the FDA's August approval of GlaxoSmithKline's Hiberix as a booster dose for children ages 15 months to 4 years, the AAFP has adopted the CDC's recommendation that physicians recall children who have not received a booster dose.

"With licensure of Hiberix and anticipated distribution, the increased supply of Hib-containing vaccines will be sufficient to support a provider-initiated notification process to contact all children whose Hib booster dose had been deferred," said the CDC in a Sept. 18 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. "When feasible and when vaccine supply in the office is sufficient, vaccination providers should review electronic or paper medical records or immunization information system (e.g., registry) records to identify and recall children in need of a booster dose."

The agency said that if a physician's supplies are inadequate to recall all affected patients, they should provide the booster dose at the child's next regularly scheduled visit.

A nationwide shortage of Hib vaccine started in 2007 when Merck & Co. Inc. recalled 1 million doses of Hib-containing vaccine and later suspended production of its Hib-containing vaccine products.

In response, the CDC, the AAFP and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended temporarily deferring the Hib booster in healthy children not at high risk for invasive Hib disease.