More than 100 million doses of influenza vaccine available this year in the United States

Sep 5 2004

Despite an Aug. 26 announcement that some doses of influenza vaccine to the United States have been delayed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the effects of the delay will be minimal - and physicians do not need to order more doses.

Chiron, a biotechnology company, said some doses of its Fluvirin vaccine for the 2004-2005 influenza season will be delayed until early October because approximately 4 million doses in its Liverpool, England, plant did not meet product sterility specifications. All of Chiron's previously released doses for this season have been recalled.

After its doses are proven safe, Chiron plans to release between 46 and 48 million doses to the United States and 2 million to the CDC stockpile. Depending on which distributor they ordered the product from, some health care professionals will receive Chiron's doses in September.

The CDC said the delay is not a potential health crisis and will have minimal effect on patients be cause most influenza vaccinations occur between October and February.

Other companies such as Aventis Pasteur and Medimmune Inc. are on schedule in delivering their influenza vaccinations. Altogether, there will be more than 100 million doses of influenza vaccine available this year in the United States, which is more than last year's supply.