According to reports, Japanese health officials have suspended the use of the vaccine after deaths of five children early this week. The authorities are carrying out the investigation. According to the authorities, the death was caused by two common childhood vaccines.

Japan's health ministry has strictly prohibited the use of the controversial vaccines produced by Pfizer Inc and Sanofi-Aventis SA after the deaths of five children. These vaccines were used to prevent meningitis and pneumonia.

Sanofi-Aventis SA is the maker of ActHIB vaccine has reported that it has recalled almost 200,000 doses which was distributed all across Japan. This move by the company was not because of the ongoing investigation.

A spokeswoman told the Health Blog that Sanofi has discovered a foreign matter in the syringes after dispensing the vaccine. She also claimed that this move is a mere act of precaution and also suggested that ActHIB does not pose any safety threat.

ActHIB vaccine is used using syringes which contain a solution and the powdered vaccine is made ready for use.

Sanofi is investigating the matter and it claims that those syringes were manufactured in 2009 might be contaminated during manufacturing.

The Company spokeswoman said that those foreign matters did not affect the sterility of the vaccine. Those parents who got their children vaccinated are requested not to panic as there is no health threat.