While the potential for a shortage like the one last year appears to have diminished, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still approaching this year's flu season with caution. The agency released a plan Thursday which prioritizes the order in which groups should be given shots: people 65 and older, pregnant women, children between six and 23 months and healthcare personnel responsible for direct patient care.
The CDC estimates 75 million doses of flu vaccine are necessary to protect the US population. The leading vaccine producer this year is expected to be Sanofi-Aventis, which is expected to deliver 60 million doses. Earlier this week regulators gave the go ahead for production to resume at Chiron, which said it will produce between 18 million and 26 million doses.
- see this story [1] from the AP
Links:
[1] http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050902/ap_on_he_me/cdc_flu_shots