This week, British regulators suspended the license of Chiron Corp, the world's second-leading flu vaccine supplier, for three months citing manufacturing problems at the Liverpool, England factory where the Fluvirun flu vaccine is made. The suspension means more than a delay, but no Fluvirun will be shipped anywhere this year. Forty-six to 48 million doses were originally planned for the U.S. Approximately 54 million flu shots, the rest of the nation's supply, is coming from Aventis Pasteur, the world's leading supplier. Aventis doesn't expect to be able to produce more vaccine until at least November, when existing orders are filled. But the CDC has now asked Aventis to try to redistribute its shipments so high-risk patients get their shots first. For non-high-risk patients, there is another option. Approximately 1 million doses of an inhaled flu vaccine called MedImmune Inc.'s FluMist, made from live but weakened influenza virus, will be available for healthy 5-to-49-year-olds. Researchers are also considering whether Aventis' vaccine could be diluted to get two doses out of each original shot, but more research on this year's flu vaccine would be needed. Because of this urgent situation, the CDC, in coordination with its Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), is issuing interim recommendations for influenza vaccination during the 2004-05 season. These interim recommendations were formally recommended by ACIP on October 5, 2004, and take precedence over earlier recommendations. You can access these interim recommendations by visiting http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/whoshouldget.htm