MENINGITIS

Vaccine Company Has Sordid History

Accused of spreading virus in 2004.

We might be more understanding if the saying was “there’s a second time for everything.” Apparently, the compounding pharmacy that is linked to the meningitis outbreak that has killed 12 and infected 130 may have done this before. In 2004, the New England Compounding Center settled a lawsuit alleging it was responsible for the death of an 83-year-old man infected with a different form of meningitis, possibly by a shot produced by the company. To add to that, a drug company also owned by Ameridose was accused this year of mixing sterile and non-sterile products in the warehouse. And just this summer, an organization that links hospitals with drug suppliers cancelled a contract with Ameridose, saying their poor quality control “rose to a level of concern for patient safety.”