Japan Reprts 6th Infant Vaccine Death

Japan reports sixth infant death after vaccination

* Foreign

2011-03-10 16:43

TOKYO, Thursday 10 March 2011 (AFP) - Japan's health ministry on Thursday reported the death of a sixth infant who recently received vaccinations made by Pfizer or Sanofi-Aventis that have been suspended since last week.

The ministry said the unidentified boy, aged between six months and one year, died seven days after receiving Sanofi Pasteur's ActHIB in combination with a DPT shot for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus on February 15.

The latest case followed the ministry's earlier reports that five infants under three years old had died since early February after receiving the vaccinations alone or in combination with other drugs.

At least three of the six infants suffered from known pre-existing heart conditions and other illnesses.

The ministry has suspended Prevenar, made by New York-based Pfizer, and ActHIB, made by the Sanofi Pasteur wing of Paris-headquartered Sanofi-Aventis, while it investigates whether they are linked to the children's deaths.

A group of medical experts have said they were not able to identify a specific link between the deaths and the vaccines and the ministry is conducting detailed investigations.

Both shots have been given widely to children around the world for years to prevent bacterial infections causing pneumonia and meningitis, which can be fatal in rare instances.