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June 12, 2002
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Vaccine Supply Dries Up"
Melbourne Age (www.theage.com.au) (06/10/02) P. 5; Wroe, David
There is at least a six-month wait for vaccines against the meningococcus C bacteria in Victoria, Australia, because of a sudden uptake in global demand and short supplies. Vaccine supplier Wyeth Australia has requested another 100,000 doses from its American parent and manufacturing company, but spokesman Dr. Rachel David said the short supply was due in part to the United States putting pressure on the firm to produce smallpox and anthrax vaccines instead, fueled by bioterrorism threats. David said Wyeth Australia was unable to fill orders for some 60,000 doses nationally; demand for the vaccine has been on the rise after reports of 25 meningococcal disease deaths, plus heavy promotion by physicians and government health agencies encouraging the use of the vaccine.
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