OHI Alerts Public to Pfizer Recall of Birth Control Pills
Dr. Theresa Berger, CEO, of Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI), a federally qualified health center, has announced that the public should be aware that on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, the Pfizer Inc. issued a recall of over one million birth control pills.
Pfizer claims it accidently mixed up active and inactive pills, making the use of certain birth control ineffective. The company cited the mix up was “due to possibility of inexact tablet counts or out of sequence tablets.”
The birth control brands included in the recall are 14 lots of Lo/Ovral and 14 lots of Norgestrel & Ethinyl Estradiol tablets. The pills were “manufactured and packaged by Pfizer Inc., commercialized by Akrimax Rx Products, and labeled under the Akrimax Pharmaceuticals brand.”
Patients who have received the types of birth control listed in the recall should either visit the Pfizer website where the recalled lot numbers and packet numbers are listed or call 845-602-4768.
Pfizer says it has now corrected the problem.
Dr. Berger says, “Please be advised that if you are taking these pills, they may be ineffective and can result in pregnancy.” Dr. Berger suggests women use another form of non-hormonal contraceptive in place of the birth control to prevent pregnancy.
OHI is dedicated to providing current information to its patients and the Ocean County Community. For more information visit the Pfizer website at www.pfizer.com.
About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood; and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River; and 333 Haywood Road Manahawkin, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area’s uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual’s or family’s ability to pay. OHIhas a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.
###