Flu Vaccine

Flu Vaccine Shortage Again This Year

United Press International

Saturday, July 16, 2005

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Jul 16, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Vaccine will be in short supply again this flu season and the same company responsible for last year's shortage is responsible, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Chiron Corp. said Friday a bacterial contamination at a German factory has ruined 8 million doses intended for non-U.S. markets, the newspaper reported.

The Emeryville, Calif.,-based company says the shortage will not affect shipments to the United States.

Contamination of U.S.-bound vaccines last year will force the company to get Food and Drug Administration approval to ship vaccines to the United States this year.

Last year Chiron was forced to destroy 52 million doses after contamination was found in its Liverpool, England, facility.

Chiron plans to increase production in its Siena, Italy, plant to make up for the loss in Germany.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_25803.html