trying to salvage some vaccine held up in a British factory

October 8, 2004

http://www.wnbc.com/health/3790466/detail.html

Anxious Patients Stand In Long Lines For Shots

POSTED: 10:03 am EDT October 7, 2004

UPDATED: 4:40 pm EDT October 7, 2004

With flu shot clinics being canceled nationwide, U.S. health officials are trying to salvage some vaccine held up in a British factory.

They met with British regulators in London on Thursday to discuss Britain's move to temporarily shut down Chiron Corp., the supplier of half the American flu vaccine supply. Britain defended the move, which stunned U.S. health officials this week. They say the vaccine was tainted with a bacteria. American health officials wanted to examine test results. They also will visit the Chiron factory where the vaccine is being held to see if any can be salvaged. Back in the United States, phones have been ringing off the hook in doctors' offices with patients eager to get the vaccine.

Flu shot clinics that have gone on despite the shortage have seen huge lines. In Potomac, Md., a flu shot clinic at a grocery store had such a large turnout that police had to be called to direct traffic.

U.S. health officials are scrambling to find out which cities and states will have the worst vaccine shortages.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it'll be weeks before that can happen. Most of the doses have gone to private distributors, not state health departments.

The government says it will urge those distributors to ration the vaccine out to those most in need -- the youngest, oldest and sickest.

"We don't get most of the high-risk people anyway. In a sense, the added focus will bring more of those people out and get them to medical care. A silver lining in a cloud," said Dr. Michael Elkort, of Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts.

"At risk" patients include: children between 6 months and 23 months old; adults 65 years and older; anyone with underlying chronic medical conditions; some pregnant women; and health-care workers and child-care providers.

"We're concerned there's not enough in the country to give to the children," said Lorretta Chow, mother of a 2-year-old.

However, experts say that Chiron didn't make any of vaccines designed for young children, so the supplies of that vaccine won't be affected by the shortage.

Previous Stories:

October 6, 2004: Officials, Doctors Worry About Flu Vaccine Shortage October 6, 2004: Facing Flu Vaccine Shortage, Officials Urge Rationing

Then from Rense.com.....Dr. Doyle's opinion......

Patricia A. Doyle, PhD10-8-4

Hello Jeff - This is just amazing! US officials are trying to salvage some of the tainted Chiron flu shots for use on the public which will comprise mainly the elderly and infirm...and when (not if) people taking the tainted shots get ill and die, their death certificates will probably read cause of death as influenza and not bad vaccine.

I believe the interest in getting the vaccine to market is purely monetary. Taking contaminated vaccine is far more risky then getting influenza.

Anyone who gets a flu shot this Fall has NO WAY of knowing where the vaccine was manufactured or if it is from the tainted vaccine. This sounds like Russian Roulette. It doubtful that the patient would be told the truth. I really don't see doctors or health clinics waring patients that the shot they are getting might be contaminated. It is simply a toss of the dice. A mighty big gamble.

Patricia Doyle

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