title: Using an immunization information system to facilitate a vaccine recall in New York City, 2007.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In December 2007, Merck & Co, Inc, initiated a voluntary recall of 10 lots of PedvaxHIB, and 2 lots of COMVAX when the potential of contamination was identified during routine testing of the manufacturing equipment. Merck recommended that providers stop vaccinating children using these vaccine lots.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe how the New York City (NYC) Immunization Information System was used in the effort to recall vaccines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immediately following Merck's announcement, NYC's Bureau of Immunization used the New York Citywide Immunization Registry (CIR) to (a) fax and e-mail all pediatric facilities a letter informing them of the recall and asking that they immediately remove recalled vaccines from their refrigerators; (b) identify facilities that had used the recalled lots, on the basis of data reported to the CIR, and contact them individually by phone; and (c) monitor the success of the recall by examining the number of recalled doses administered and reported to the CIR before and after the recall.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The alert was faxed and e-mailed to 1928 pediatric facilities informing them of the recall. In addition, the Bureau of Immunization identified 105 facilities that had reported doses of vaccine from the recalled lots to the CIR and called to ask them to check their refrigerators for remaining supplies and discontinue use of this vaccine. The number of doses with the affected lot numbers reported to the CIR decreased sharply following CIR recall notification. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Merck reported the return of nearly 50% of publicly and privately purchased vaccines from the recalled lots that had been distributed to NYC providers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunization Information Systems can be effective tools for quickly identifying providers in possession of recalled vaccine lots, particularly when lot numbers are well reported, and for facilitating rapid vaccine recall in support of vaccine safety.
authors.affiliation: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Long Island City, NY 11101-4232, USA. vpapadou@health.nyc.gov
authors.forename: Vikki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papadouka
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metroka
authors.forename: Jane R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Zucker
mesh_terms: D004340:Drug Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000592:standards*; D007256:Information Systems; D009519:New York City; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D057051:Product Recalls and Withdrawals
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines