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COLUMBIA — Health officials are recalling hundreds of thousands of doses of swine flu vaccine after tests indicated they may not be potent enough to protect against the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified doctors about the recall Tuesday. The recall involves about 800,000 doses made by Sanofi Pasteur. The doses are pre-filled syringes intended for young children, ages 6 months to almost three years.

Health officials recommend children those ages get two doses, spaced about a month apart.

Health officials say it's not clear how many doses have already been given, but they don't think children need to be re-vaccinated. The lots passed potency tests when they were first shipped, but tests indicate the potency waned after.

S.C. Dept. of Health and Environmental Control spokesman Thom Berry said Monday that 20,500 of the recalled vaccines were shipped to South Carolina.

Berry said it was impossible to track the precise locations in the state where the vaccines were shipped, but there is no need for anyone to be revaccinated.

"The vaccine is not unsafe. There is no reason for anyone to be concerned," said Berry. "The CDC sets minimum standards for strength and when the company tested these lots they found they were not as strong as they should be."

The vaccine still offers some protection against the swine flu virus, Berry said.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)