The United States Food and Drug Administration keeps a current list of all recalled drugs on its drug recall web page. Recalls designated Class I are typically issued in response to defective drugs that pose severe health risks resulting in severe illness or death. In recent years the number of recalls issued for prescription medications and over the counter drugs. Biological products made from ingredients extracted from living organisms such as animals, humans and microbes, especially vaccines, are increasingly becoming the subject of recalls. GBI Research conducted a detailed analysis of biologic recalls issued between 2007 and 2010. The report concluded that biologically derived products are often released before they’ve been sufficiently tested because the complicated manufacturing and sterilization processes leave room for impurities and production defects. During the four year time span covered by the study, 14 recalls were issued for immunizations, and 13 recalls were issues for immunoglobulins, for potential health problems including the presence of contaminants such as glass particles, or other quality defects, mislabeled packaging, and manufacturing defects. Last year, an FDA inspection revealed burnt plastic fragments in vaccine vials at a Merck pharmaceutical manufacturing plant.
As a personal injury attorney in San Francisco, I hope medication and vaccines become safer for consumers. If you or someone you love has been made ill by a recalled drug or vaccine, please consider contacting a Bakersfield personal injury lawyer.