Sunday, 17 February, 2002, 07:31 GMT

Thousands received ineffective vaccine

Health officials in Brazil say as many as 60,000 people may have to be re-vaccinated against Hepatitis A, after the company manufacturing the vaccine said some doses were not potent enough.

The pharmaceutical company, Merck, said the recall also affected Argentina, as well as several European and Asian countries.

But it could not give details of the other cases.

A Merck spokesman Gregory Reaves said it started recalling doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine in November after it was discovered that those packed in pre-filled syringes did not provide enough protection against the liver disease.

The ineffective vaccine had been given to both adults and children, he said. Hepatitis A causes fatigue, fevers and liver pains.

In rare cases it can be fatal.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

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