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April 11, 2003
U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Meningitis, Pneumonia Vaccine in Short Supply"
Charleston Gazette (www.wvgazette.com) (04/10/03) P. P5A; McVicar, Nancy
Prevnar, which is manufactured by Lederle Laboratories and marketed by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, is in short supply due to production problems and high demand. The vaccine protects infants from the bacteria that causes meningitis, pneumonia, and some ear infections. The shortage is causing some doctors to ration the vaccine by reducing the number of shots that healthy babies receive from four to three; however, babies with health problems are being given the recommended number of shots. A study in the Feb. 5 Journal of the American Medical Association found that over 50 percent of 405 doctors' offices in 12 states said they had run out of the vaccine at least once. The manufacturer is reportedly getting caught up with its production problems, although there is always a lag between manufacturer and shipment to doctors, noted David Neumann, director of the National Partnership for Immunization, a joint program of Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
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