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Like the Flu, Vaccine Shortages Return

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

November 7, 2005

• More Flu Shots for Kids • Record Amount Of Flu Vaccine On Hand • Nasty Flu Year in Store • Nasal Flu Vaccine Approved For Young Children • FDA OKs Relenza for Treatment and Prevention of Flu • Expanded Flu Shot Recommendations for Children • CDC Revises Flu Treatment Guidelines • Flu Outbreak Jams California Emergency Rooms • FDA Approves Tamiflu for Prevention of Flu in Children • Do Flu Shots Really Help Seniors? • No Surprises in Use of Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine • Flu Expert Wants Mandatory Vaccination of Health Care Workers • Like the Flu, Vaccine Shortages Return • Chiron Cleared To Ship Flu Vaccine • Flu Shots' Benefit to Elderly Questioned --- • U.S. Fears Devastating "Bird Flu" Pandemic

This year was supposed to be different. After production problems at a pharmaceutical plant cut available flu vaccine supplies in half, consumers were assured by health officials that this year, there would be plenty of vaccine for everyone.

But in many areas of the country, consumers wanting flu shots are being met with long lines and -- yes -- shortages.

"There's enough flu vaccine to go around in the nation, the problem is in how it's being distributed," said Kristen Olsen-Kennedy with the Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Health Department.

"The distribution has been coming out in dribs and drabs to everybody. We make one large order, and they give it to us in chunks," she told WCNC-TV.

Inova, the largest hospital chain in the Washington, D.C., has cancelled its flu shot clinics at churches, shopping malls and community centers because of supply problems.

A survey of media reports by ConsumerAffairs.com over the weekend shows that distribution issues have indeed slowed the process of getting flu vaccine in the hands of many health care providers, frustrating consumers who've been told they need to get shots.

Anecdotal evidence suggests the shortages are limited to specific regions, but within those regions its widespread. It may or may not be tied to vaccine maker Chiron's recent announcement that production problems -- though not as severe as last years -- would reduce the amount of vaccine that it would deliver.

In central Indiana, a visiting nurse association has cancelled nearly all of its flu clinics, at least temporarily. The remaining clinic locations will be limited to just 200 shots.

"Yes we are disappointed and it is challenging and it is frustrating," nursing official Jeanine Keating told WTHR-TV.

The station reports that Walgreens Drug Stores in central Indiana have suspended all on-site flu vaccinations until supplies stabilize.

As the flu season got underway in late October, the state of Vermont found itself in short supply of the supposedly plentiful vaccine.

More than half of Vermont's 12 home health agencies that hold public flu-shot clinics each year had yet to receive any vaccine by the end of October, according to the Rutland Herald. The health care organizations were forced to pool their limited supply, so that no area of the small state went without inoculations.

A spokeswoman for the state's dozen visiting nurse associations told the paper they expect to receive more vaccine in the coming weeks. But until they do, the nonprofit groups are limiting shots to only those who are at high risk of catching the potentially deadly disease.

There are also shortages in East Tennessee. The Bristol Herald-Courier reports some counties are already running low or out of vaccine because of supply problems to the area's largest health provider.

"We're going to see sporadic shortages in this area, there's no doubt about that," Tony Leonard, a purchasing agent for hospital conglomerate Mountain States Health Alliance, told the paper.

Because of shortages, consumers who want flu shots show up early and in large numbers at the small number of venues where the vaccine is available.

"If you come here, you better make sure you bring a dinner," 67-year old Mike Kinney told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, in upstate New York., as we waited in a line of more than 150 people for a flu shot.

Vaccine shortages are a statewide problem in Arizona. So much so that Governor Janet Napolitano called Health and Human Services Secretary late last week to complain.

"We're frustrated, the governor's frustrated and we want some answers," Michael Murphy, spokesman for the Arizona health department, told the Arizona Republic.

Someone searching for answers about the flu vaccine on the Department of Health and Human Services Web site will not find them. There is, however, plenty of information about the department's plan for coping with a potential pandemic of bird flu. That extensive plan was introduced at the White House last week.

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