Originally published July 3 2005
Flu shots could be in short supply again this season
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
East Bay drug maker Chiron Corp. announced it won't be making as much vaccine as it had forecast optimistically just seven weeks ago, making the prospects of another flu shot shortage very likely.
Prospects for a rerun of last year's flu shot shortage grew on Wednesday after East Bay drug maker Chiron Corp. announced it won't be making as much vaccine as it had forecast optimistically just seven weeks ago.
The Emeryville biotechnology company owns a flu vaccine factory in Liverpool, England, that last year had its entire production run condemned by British health authorities because of contamination problems.
The subsequent loss of 48 million doses of flu vaccine represented about half the U.S. supply, and prompted rationing of the 61 million doses ultimately produced by two remaining vaccine makers.
Despite the latest setback, Chiron chief executive Howard Pien declared that his company is committed to supplying vaccine to the U.S. market this fall.
Since the shutdown of its Liverpool plant in October, Chiron carried out a plan to clean up its manufacturing process, winning tentative approval from British drug regulators in March to resume making the vaccine.
The latest setback in the star-crossed U.S. flu shot program is certain to be discussed at a June 30 meeting in Atlanta of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which makes recommendations about who should receive flu vaccine and who should not.
In a discussion with financial analysts at a conference in Dana Point (Orange County), Chiron President Jack Goldstein said the latest problem occurred as the company was preparing to "ramp up" to full capacity and to produce the third of three flu strains used in the vaccine.
The third vaccine component, designed to combat the so-called A/California strain that emerged as the predominant virus in last winter's flu season, is being made by Chiron for the first time this year.
Although it is not unusual for a vaccine maker to have difficulty producing a new strain, Goldstein indicated that the current problem is one of training the more than 100 new factory employees brought on to solve its quality-control problems.
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