Vaccine race to beat killer disease

By Danielle Teutsch, Health Reporter
August 11 2002
The Sun-Herald
 

The Federal Government will fast-track the approval of extra meningococcal vaccine distributors in Australia to help alleviate a shortage, a spokesman said yesterday.

The Government is expected to approve mass vaccinations this year on the recommendation of an expert committee.

Only pharmaceutical company Wyeth distributes the vaccine in Australia.

A spokesman for Federal Health Minister Kay Patterson said yesterday the Government was looking to free up supplies by encouraging other distributors to apply for a produce licence.

Wyeth Australia spokeswoman Rachel David said the company had only 25,000 doses of the US-made vaccine in the country because of a worldwide shortage.