Aventis Pasteur withdraws VAQTA hepatitis A vaccines

A coordinated withdrawal of the VAQTA hepatitis A vaccines manufactured by Aventis Pasteur took place throughout member states of the European Union (EU) last week [[see correction]]. The withdrawal applies to both adult and paediatric preparations (launched in 1997 and 1998, respectively) and to all batches of vaccine currently within their expiry date. Previous batches that have now expired (including those marketed under their generic name, “Hepatitis A vaccine, purified, inactivated, for adults”) may also have been affected.