Anti-Infection Vaccine Prevenar Linked to Dutch Deaths

A single batch of the Pfizer anti-infection vaccine Prevenar (which is called Prevnar in the United States) has been banned by Dutch health officials after three babies there died within weeks of getting the shots.

The Dutch health institute RIVM has quarantined about 110,000 doses of the vaccine, which is widely given to newborns around the world to prevent pneumonia and related infections. Batch D66977 of the drug is the subject of the quarantine.

While an average of five to 10 deaths are reported each year in babies who receive the vaccine, the recent spike of three cases in a short period prompted the ban on the batch, officials said.

The investigation into the cause of the infants’ deaths continues, but a Pfizer spokeswoman said officials have found no link between the vaccinations and the recent deaths, according to a Reuters news report.

The three infants who died also received two other routine vaccines in addition to the shots of Prevenar so it is unknown whether the vaccine is an actual cause of the deaths, officials said.

Other batches of Prevenar will remain in use during the quarantine and investigation.

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