Hiberix, a vaccine that helps prevent the bacterial infection Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) which can cause meningitis, was approved by the FDA as the fourth booster dose for children 15 months to four years old. The GlaxoSmithKline PLC vaccine was given accelerated approval due to a shortage of the vaccine after Merck & Co. Inc. withdrew 1.2 million doses in 2007 because of suspected contamination of equipment at its Montgomery County facility. Sanofi Pasteur Inc., maker of another Hib vaccine, could not make up the entire shortfall despite it increasing production. Some of Merck"s PedvaxHIB should be available by the end of the year. The FDA decided that the vaccine was safe and effective after examining data of clinical trials in 1,000 children in Europe, Latin America and Canada.
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