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The Department of Health (DH) today (February 14) drew the public's attention to a public health notification issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States concerning reports of intussusception (intestine get blocked or twisted) following administration of Rotavirus, Live, Oral, Pentavalent vaccine (trade name RotaTeq) manufactured by Merck and Co., Inc.
The FDA appeal was made after 28 cases of intussusception involving infants who had received RotaTeq were detected. Sixteen of the affected infants required hospitalization and surgery on their intestine. No deaths due to intussusception were reported.
A DH spokesman said RotaTeq is used for the prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis.
"The vaccine is a prescription drug registered in Hong Kong in December 2006 and DH has not received any reports of adverse effects related to the vaccine in Hong Kong,"
"DH will inform doctors and hospitals about the FDA's alert," the spokesman said.
Doctors who suspect a child developing signs and symptoms of intussusception following RotaTeq administration are encouraged to report it to the DH by calling DH's adverse drug reactions hotline 2319 8482 during office hours.
The spokesman called on parents to contact their family doctors immediately if their children have stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, blood in their stool or change in their bowel movements after receiving rotavirus vaccination recently.
Ends/Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:00
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