Signs point to flu vaccine shortage

Despite assurances that manufacturers would be able to produce an adequate supply of flu vaccine for the 2005 flu season, early indications suggest there will be shortages across the country this year. While the problems do not yet seem to be as severe as those last year, many healthcare providers are reporting at least limited disruption of expected shipments. Partly to blame is more problems at Chiron, which was expected to supply between 18 million and 26 million doses of Fluvirin. So far the company has not yet received FDA approval for this year's shipments. That is leading to fears of a worst-case scenario in which Chiron is forced to cancel its shipments again while national demand for shots peaks due to concern about avian flu.

- see this report from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)