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Flu Vaccine Shortage - Protection for Who?

© Adelle Vancil Tilton

Recently in the news there has been a lot of information regarding the availability of flu vaccine for the 2000-2001 flu season . It has been reported, by all of the major news agencies that there is a shortage of available vaccines. The shortage is expected to last until November.

The question that arises from this can only be, how could this have happened? For many people, the flu shot is not an issue. It is only recommended for the elderly, the immuno-compromised and those with chronic illness. But within the population of the United States, a significant number of people get this shot every year. There are those who can't miss time at work, people who work in the healthcare industry, mothers who can't afford to be down for 10-14 days and those who simply don't want to catch the flu. It is interesting that an agency that is so vaccine oriented for all of the other illnesses, has become so nonchalant about the flu vaccine... this year anyway.

The CDC has issued an official press release on this issue. They, and the FDA, are working with vaccine manufacturers to pass along to healthcare providers current updates on the situation and would like to postpone any "mass" vaccinations until November, stating that plans need to be implemented to insure that those most in need of the vaccinations somehow are provided for.

The amount of vaccine available is complicated by two important factors: 1) the yield for this year's influenza vaccine A(H3N2) component appears to be lower than expected which limits the supply that can be developed in time for this flu season and, 2) other manufacturing issues. Manufacturers are working closely with the FDA to address these issues.

What other manufacturing issues? Have those issues been defined by anyone? I have been unable to locate any information regarding this. But I do believe this brings up several issues that need to be looked at closely. The controversy around vaccinations is only thickening.

The requirement for flu vaccine should not have been a surprise for the vaccine manufacturing companies. Every year flu vaccines are made and the population of the United States has not varied from year to year in any significant amount.

The controversy around vaccinations is becoming a very volatile situation. Recently evidence has shown that at least one, and possibly two vaccinations given to children, have caused or at least contributed to the development of juvenile diabetes or asthma. The controversy around the MMR vaccine with Autistic children is a boiling cauldron of dispute.