September 29, 2004
CNN
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Americans are caught between worries over the safety of the flu vaccine and fears that they will not be able to get it when they need it, a health official told Congress Tuesday.
But the president of a major flu vaccine manufacturer pledged that his company's vaccine was safe and would be distributed on time for the October start of the flu season.
Last year's early influenza season led to heavy demand for the vaccine. And health officials miscalculated, so the vaccine, which is made up of three different flu strains, did not protect against the most common and dangerous strain.
This year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered 100 million doses of vaccine and it has been reformulated -- as it is every year.
However, vaccine maker Chiron Corp. said last month it had found impurities in a few batches and held up production. This confused patients, said Carol Moehrle, Director of Idaho's North Central District Health Department
"They are fearful that we will have a shortage this season like we have had in the past. I spoke with one elderly woman recently who was close to a state of panic," she told a hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
"Moreover, she was greatly worried about the safety of vaccines, due to the recent press coverage about possibly tainted lots of vaccine," Moehrle added.
"It is clear to me that many of our elderly residents don't trust the ability of the public health system to deliver the flu vaccines that they need, when they need it."
Several nursing homes ran out of vaccine last year and some clinics had to share supplies while large store chains, which had had their own vaccination programs, refused to share.
"We do not believe that anyone has a clear understanding of the supply and distribution problems that we have experienced. We all order vaccine from same distributors and wholesalers," said Moehrle.
Dr. Stephen Ostroff of the Centers for Disease Control said it was in contact with distributors who buy the vaccine directly from the manufacturers. "We are working with the top 20 distributors to monitor how the vaccine is going out," he told the hearing.
Moehrle warned that voluntary cooperation might not be enough. "If the nightmare of a flu pandemic ever arrives, we believe the federal government will have to step in to take a strong hand," she said.
Chiron's chief executive officer, Howard Pien, said the company had lost 4 million doses of its Fluvirin vaccine that were contaminated, but the rest of the supply -- 48 million doses -- was safe and would go out on schedule.
He said Chiron was also working on a faster way to make the influenza vaccine, which currently takes months.
Dr. Pamela McInnes of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said her agency was working to develop better flu vaccines for the elderly, who are not always fully protected by vaccines because of their failing immune systems.
Flu kills an estimated 36,000 Americans a year and puts 200,000 into the hospital. The CDC recommends that elderly people, health care workers, children under 2 and people with chronic illnesses get a flu shot every year.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/conditions/09/29/flu.vaccine.reut/index.html