Flu shot season kicks off; increased supply expected

A rise in the number of vaccine manufacturers sparks optimism that a replay of last year's problems will be avoided.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Oct. 3, 2005.

Washington -- As physicians, nurses and others pick up flu shot syringes and brace for the upcoming influenza season, they are being urged by national health organizations to give injections first to people in high-priority groups -- including themselves.

New to this risk category are people made homeless by Hurricane Katrina and now living in crowded shelters. They are also at the front of the line to receive any necessary catch-up vaccinations, since many lacked routine health care even before the hurricane struck.

But after Oct. 24, all comers should be provided the flu vaccine, said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH.

"This year, to help ensure that people at highest risk for serious complications are vaccinated, we're making them a priority for the next six weeks," said Dr. Gerberding during a Sept. 14 briefing sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the AMA's National Influenza Vaccine Summit.

If followed, that recommendation should help avoid a replay of last year's scenario in which elderly and other high-risk people waited in lines for hours to receive flu shots. The sudden halving of that season's supply when Chiron Corp. failed to produce its promised doses led to a supply-line nightmare for physicians and other health care professionals.

The hope this year is for a more orderly vaccine distribution process.

For one thing, there should be at least 71 million to 90 million doses of vaccine on hand, Dr. Gerberding said, compared with about 60 million last year.