Fear of winter flu leads to record vaccine production

Fear of winter flu leads to record vaccine production

In America, with the winter flu season just around the corner, the vaccine producing companies are gearing up for what could be one of the highest demands for vaccine shots in the American history. The vaccine producing companies are expected to receive a major boost.

The demand for vaccines could be much more than the supply. The total estimated supply this year could be as high as 97 million doses. This is roughly a third more than what was required last year. This year the government plans to implement a different strategy altogether. This is keeping in mind the sudden shortage faced last year when the production of one of the leading companies went down.

This year the vaccines will reach those who require it the most. This has been decided by the government keeping in view the general interest and welfare.

Sponsors

Donald Williamson, the state health officer of Alabama and spokesman for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials has stated that the true demand for vaccines can only be assessed after they start vaccinating the low risk people. This process would only start after October 24.

There is a great deal of anxiety in America regarding the spread of H5N1 avian influenza from Asia to Europe. The winter flu vaccine does not offer resistance to bird flu. Four companies produced vaccines for winter flu this year. Of the four, three made injectable vaccines while one made a nasal spray containing live but weakened flu virus. The nasal spray was made by Medimmune which is headquartered at Gaithersburg. The other three companies are Chiron Corp., Sanofi Pasteur and Glaxosmithkline.

Chiron Corp., a California based biotech company faced plenty of rough weather last year. The Food and Drug Administration rejected 48 million doses of the company. The French Pharmaceutical Giant, Sanofi Pasteur, produced 60 million doses. Glaxosmithkline, a new entrant this year produced 8 million doses this year.

It has also been clearly decided as to who all have to get the vaccine shots on a priority basis. This would include health workers and pregnant women, children between 6 months and 2 years, young people with chronic illnesses such as asthma and diabetes, people older than 65 years, and those who work in the nursing homes.

The priority group never gets fully immunized. The health care workers have to be given this vaccine shot first since they can pass it to their patients. The tiny toddlers are also at a great risk. So the government has recommended that the healthy toddlers too take this vaccine shot. The government this time is well prepared to face the situation. All the leading health agencies and health departments have placed their orders well in advance and are geared up to face any kind of situation.