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March 6, 2002

“Vaccine Shortages Frustrate Everyone”

American Medical News (www.amednews.com) (03/04/02) Vol. 45, No. 9, P. 1; Landers, Susan J.

Vaccine shortages in the United States are causing enormous frustration.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a conference on the issue a few weeks ago, bringing together insurers, federal agencies, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies to discuss the problem.  According to doctors who attended the conference, the shortages of  vaccines for common childhood diseases are destroying the foundation of preventive medicine.  Antigens used to make four widely-used vaccines are in such short supply that many doctors are being forced to indefinitely postpone necessary shots.  The conference proposed a number of different strategies to solve the problem, such as creating additional stockpiles of vaccines so that there would still be plenty of doses available in the event of a shortage. In addition, there should be greater funding and liability protection for manufacturers who develop vaccines and for the doctors who administer the doses.  Finally, manufacturers should be required to give adequate notice before they stop making a vaccine.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.