FDA News Digest December 16, 2002 _______________________________________________ New Combination Vaccine Protects Against Five Childhood Diseases FDA has approved Pediarix, a new combination vaccine that protects infants against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and disease due to the hepatitis B virus. The vaccine combination effectively reduces the number of injections needed for the same protection from nine to three. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2002/ANS01181.html _____________________________________________________________ FDA Strengthens Controls, Alerts Consumers About Importing Certain Drugs To help reduce preventable adverse events, FDA is restricting imports of certain prescription drugs that can only be used safely in a limited distribution system. Among drugs included in the action are thalidomide, mifepristone, isotretinoin, and clozapine. FDA also is alerting consumers not to buy these drugs over the Internet. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2002/NEW00856.html _____________________________________________________________ FDA Responds to Blood Products Voluntarily Withdrawn to Lower West Nile Risk Responding to the recent voluntary withdrawal by the blood industry of certain frozen blood products, FDA said the action "is a rational response to the risk" of West Nile Virus. FDA has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the blood banking community to manage the potential risk of West Nile transmission from blood or blood products. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2002/NEW00857.html _____________________________________________________________ Missouri Company Recalls Soymilk Because It May Contain Dairy Proteins Jasper Products is recalling more than 5,000 cases of 32-ounce cartons of soymilk because the product may contain undeclared dairy proteins. Packaged under several brand names, the soymilk was distributed to warehouses in six states for national distribution. People sensitive to dairy proteins could risk a serious or life-threatening reaction if they consume the recalled product. http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/jasper12_02.html _____________________________________________________________ Thanks for subscribing to the FDA News Digest. Our next posting will be December 23. To leave this list at any time, send an e-mail to LISTSERV@LIST.NIH.GOV In the body of the message, write SIGNOFF FDA-NEWSDIGEST-L
