http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/cdh/20010811/lo/influenza_other_vaccines_again_in_short_supply_1.html
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Saturday
August 11 07:27 AM EDT
By
Teresa Mask Daily Herald Staff Writer
A dwindling number of manufacturers will mean delays in the shipment of several
vaccines this fall, including those for influenza and diphtheria.
The timing couldn't be worse, some doctors said, as flu season is about to
hit and students needing immunizations are heading back to school.
"It reminds me of last year's delay," said Dr. Mark Collins,
president of the Alexian Brothers Medical Staff in Elk Grove Village.
"Last year we were lucky to have a light flu season. What happens if we
have a severe flu season?"
Manufacturers expect that when hospitals and clinics receive their first
batch of shots, it will be enough to treat high-risk patients. The bulk of the
shipments will be shipped about a month later - sometime in late October or
November.
Officials at suburban hospitals and clinics agreed with Collins that the
news is reminiscent of last year's flu vaccine shortage. And some are bracing
for the delay to become an annual occurrence with one of the four flu vaccine
manufacturers stopping production of the vaccine altogether.
Also, to the dismay of area distributors, the manufacturers are opting to
sell directly to doctors and clinics - eliminating the middle man.
Tom Sparacinco, general manager of Richmark Medical Supply in West Chicago,
learned just two weeks ago that he won't be getting the 100,000 vials,
containing 10 shots each, of the flu vaccine he ordered for area doctors.
"There are some doctors who had pre-booked with me, so they are
screaming because they want me to find them flu vaccines," he said.
Because of the nationwide shortage, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease
Control has released some suggestions on giving flu shots to high-risk patients
- senior citizens, asthma sufferers and those with chronic respiratory
problems.
"It's a situation where (healthy) people need not panic at the thought
that there is not going to be enough vaccine," said P.J. Burtle-McCredie,
a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health (news
- web
sites). "We just need to make sure those who are going to suffer the
greatest consequences get it first."
Along with the flu vaccine, the immunization delay seems to be spreading to
other areas, according to the CDC. There is a significant shortage of
tetanus-diptheria toxiod (Td). CDC officials said there also is some concern
about a shortage in diphtheria tetanus and pertussis (DTAP).
The Td vaccine shortage is blamed on slow production since one of the two
manufacturers announced in January it would no longer make the vaccine.
"It came as a complete surprise," said Len Lavenda, a spokesman
for Pennsylvania-based Aventis Pasteur, the sole supplier of the tetanus
vaccine. "It takes 11 months to produce a batch of the tetanus vaccine so
we've asked the CDC to defer all routine boosters."
The health department and the Illinois State Board of Education already have
warned school districts that some students may be allowed to return this fall
without the required shot.
Thousands of students, particularly in junior high and high school, are
annually immunized with the Td vaccine. It is required every decade.
Essentially, the CDC is recommending the students get the shot when the
supplies are available six months to a year from now.
Dr. Mark Rosenberg, president of the Illinois Chapter of the American
Academy of Pediatrics, said there is no alarm in delaying the shot.
As with the flu shot, the CDC is requiring all high-risk patients to be
first to receive the shots.
Vaccines: No harm in delaying shots, doctor says
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