BY MARCELLE HANEMANN
THE DAILY NEWS
 GOT ONE n Even before word got out that there would be a shortage of flu shot serum in the United States this season because the British company that manufactures half of the country's supply was shut down, close to 300 people reportedly ‘mobbed' the American Legion, which was offering the immunizations yesterday. In fact, the program ran out of serum, and about half a dozen people reportedly had to be turned away. Now health officials are saying that the shots might have to be rationed to ensure that those most at-risk will get the vaccines. The elderly, children between six months and two years of age and people with diseases such as AIDS and diabetes will reportedly be at the top of the list. Above, Harlan Irvine, right, gets a shot from Nan Patin, R.N. of Medical Systems Inc. at the American Legion. Advertisement |
Questions arose yesterday after British health officials abruptly yanked the license of the company that makes half of the United States' vaccine supply. Chiron Corp. is reportedly also one of two suppliers for Medical Systems Inc., which is offering the vaccine for the COA clinics.
COA representative Nancy McBeth said yesterday that when she called MSI to make sure there would be enough vaccine on hand for the clinics she was told that the company would have to check its supplies and would let her know some time today.
Seniors with Medicare Part B who planned to take advantage of the offer of the free immunizations are urged to read tomorrow's Daily News or to call the COA offices before attending.
The Bogalusa clinic was scheduled for 9 a.m. through 11 a.m. and the Franklinton clinic was scheduled for 12:30 p.m. through 2:30 p.m. The COA number in Bogalusa is 732-6868 and the Franklinton number is 839-6868.
MSI also offered flu shots at the American Legion Home yesterday. And a representative of the company later told The Daily News that the vaccines offered at the Legion were not manufactured by Chiron.
The British action will leave the U.S. with a "significant shortage" of flu vaccine said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease chief for the National Institutes of Health.
A top federal health official, lamenting "a very fragile vaccine production system," urged healthy people today to defer getting their influenza shots so medication will be available for those most at risk.
"We really need a long-term solution so we don't end up in this year-to-year situation where we don't have a reliable supply," Dr. Julie Gerberding said, after the supply of vaccine to the United States was abruptly cut in half.
Gerberding, head of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and other government officials appealed for voluntary rationing in the wake of a major supply interruption.
British regulators unexpectedly shut down a major flu-shot supplier Tuesday, citing manufacturing problems at the Chiron Corp. factory in England where roughly 46 million doses destined for the United States had been made.
That means only about 54 million flu shots will be available this year from a competing firm, and the U.S. government decided quickly that most healthy adults should delay or skip them to leave enough vaccine for the elderly and other high-risk patients.
Vaccine should be reserved for babies and toddlers ages 6-23 months; people 65 or older; anyone with a chronic condition such as heart or lung disease; pregnant women; nursing home residents; children on aspirin therapy; health care workers who care for high-risk groups; and anyone who cares for or lives with babies younger than 6 months.
For everyone else, "Take a deep breath. This is not an emergency," Gerberding said Tuesday. "We don't want people to rush out and look for a vaccine today."
The government has urged voluntary rationing before, during a shortage in 2000. This year, however, will mark a record shortage just before flu season begins.
The Associated Press also
contributed to this story.
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