Seasonal flu vaccine supply satisfactory

Supplies of seasonal influenza vaccine will probably be sufficient to meet demand for the 2005-2006 flu season, the Department of Health and Human Services said yesterday. National production is expected to be "adequate," although spot shortages may hit some areas. That's despite another disappointing year for Chiron, which last month announced it will not be able to meet its production goals. Total vaccine production is estimated to be in the range of 70 million to 88 million doses. Government health officials acknowledge that the impact of the H5N1 crisis on demand is uncertain.

- see this article [1] from The New York Times

ALSO: Health ministers from the major industrialized countries met in Ottawa to discuss ways in which governments can prepare for a possible pandemic. The issue of patent protections played a major role in discussions. Both India and Taiwan have announced plans to break the patent protecting Tamiflu, the leading candidate to treat victims. Those calls follow similar demands from politicians in this country, like Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), who have threatened to break the drug's patent. Article [2]

PLUS: What exactly is Roche up to with Tamiflu? Playing for time, some observers think. Despite the company's claim that no other companies are capable of producing the antiviral, Taiwan announced this morning that it has done exactly that. Article [3]  (Wall Street Journal sub. req.)

FINALLY: Adding to tensions, China confirmed an H5N1 outbreak near Tianchang. Unlike the country's earlier outbreaks, which came in sparsely populated areas, this one is in a more densely populated area. Article [4] (Wall Street Journal sub. req.)