Joint WHO-UNICEF Statement 2
12 March 2010
WHO RECOMMENDATION TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND PROCUREMENT AND USE
OF ALL LOTS OF SHAN5 (DTwP-HEPATITIS B-HIB) VACCINE PRODUCED BY SHANTHA BIOTECHNICS, INDIA
As of 12 March 2010 the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends to stop procurement and to suspend use of all lots of the Shan5 vaccine supplied to countries pending ongoing investigations.
Countries are advised to put any remaining vaccine in quarantine until further notice.
If it is confirmed that the country has received shipments of any lot of Shan5 vaccine, the vaccine should not be used, but kept under recommended storage conditions, clearly marked ‘QUARANTINED; NOT TO BE USED OR DISTRIBUTED’ until further direction is provided by WHO.
WHO recommends that countries continue vaccination using pentavalent vaccine from an alternative manufacturer or an alternate DTP-containing vaccine until further notice. Countries may contact WHO and UNICEF country offices for assistance to fill shortfalls in vaccine supply as a result of the temporary suspension