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September 6, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Budget Cuts Reduce State Supplies of Flu Vaccine"

Boston Globe (www.boston.com/globe) (09/04/02) P. B5; Mishra, Raja

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will purchase 19 percent fewer adult flu vaccine doses in preparation for this year's flu season, equal to about 132,000 doses.  As a result, state-run clinics are increasing their efforts to get the elderly and other at-risk groups vaccinated before supplies run low.  The state still plans to have 560,000 doses of flu vaccine by November, however, and officials said that anyone requesting vaccination at a state-run clinic will be able to get the shot. The initial request of 700,000 flu vaccines was made during a time of increased requests for the vaccines due to the threat of anthrax and its much-publicized flulike symptoms.  The state Legislature has allocated $20 million for adult vaccines, which is $2 million less than had been requested; children's vaccine supplies will not be affected by the budget reduction, though the state's stocks of vaccine for pneumococcal disease and hepatitis A and B reportedly will also be reduced.

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