Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Reiterates Call for Action to Prevent Childhood V

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Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Reiterates Call for Action to Prevent Childhood Vaccine Shortages

Calls Recall of Common Vaccine a Wake Up Call for Need to Expand Stockpile of Recommended Vaccines

Washington, DC - Following the recall of more than one million doses of a routine childhood vaccine, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today reiterated her call for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a six-month stockpile of critically needed pediatric and adult vaccines. Senator Clinton today reintroduced the Improved Vaccine Supply Act, which would also require vaccine manufacturers to provide no less than one year of notification prior to discontinuing the manufacture of a vaccine to ensure plans are in place for adequate vaccine supply.“This recall should be a real wake up call," said Senator Clinton. "We need to protect public health and safety by making sure we have an adequate stockpile of routine immunizations." Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine prevents infections caused by the Hib bacteria, which include meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottis. According to the CDC, Hib used to be the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, impacting more than 20,000 children under the age of five annually. However, since the introduction of the Hib vaccine, cases of invasive Hib disease have been reduced by about 99 percent. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimate that this recall of Hib vaccine will not threaten the health of children, largely because the CDC can draw upon its stockpile of the Hib vaccine to limit shortages while other manufacturers increase their capacity to produce this vaccine. The legislation introduced by Senator Clinton would increase this stockpile, provide additional security for such shortages, and expand essential supplies of a wide variety of immunizations. Senator Clinton has a long history of supporting efforts to ensure that children have access to safe and effective medications and vaccines. Senator Clinton first introduced the Improved Vaccine Supply Act during the 108th Congress in response to previous childhood vaccine shortages. Senator Clinton has also introduced the Influenza Vaccine Security Act with Senator Pat , which contains provisions that would require the Secretary of HHS to include pediatric treatments for pandemic influenza as part of the Strategic National Stockpile. And earlier this year, portions of Senator Clinton’s Pediatric Research Improvement Act, which would ensure that drugs marketed for children are safe and effective for pediatric populations, were incorporated into the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act, which was signed into law by the President.

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