CDC Predicts No Shortage of Flu Vaccine This Season

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday that, with more than 100 million doses of flu vaccine expected to be available in the United States this year, anyone who wants it should be able to get it. This year's predicted total is 17 million more doses than the previous high, in 2003, and 19 million doses more than last year's total, the CDC said. Between 85 and 90 percent will go to the private sector, at wholesale prices of as little as $11.20 per dose, and doctors should be receiving them next month, said CDC spokesman Curtis Allen. In 2004, vaccine was in short supply in the United States after Chiron Corp.'s license to produce the vaccine was suspended when contaminated doses were found at its Liverpool, England facility. This year, four manufacturers are in the business: sanofi pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline, MedImmune and Novartis, which has bought Chiron. More than 200 million Americans are at high risk of contracting influenza or are likely to come into close contact with high-risk individuals and therefore should consider taking the vaccine, Allen said. "CDC anticipates that they will be able to ship without problems with their plants," Allen said. "However, influenza production can be unpredictable, and we've learned that in the past few years." "It's often very difficult to predict how much vaccine will be distributed and when, or exactly when influenza vaccine will be available for those who provide it," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC director. "However, if the manufacturers' estimates hold, more people than ever before will be able to protect themselves and their loved ones from influenza this year." The CDC, citing information from manufacturers, said about 75 million doses will be distributed by the end of October; which would be about 15 million more doses than were distributed by that time last year.