Abundance of flu shots may mean longer vaccine season

With 132 million doses of influenza vaccine possible next season -- the most ever -- the challenge will be to use it all.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. May 14, 2007.

Washington -- Broaden the flu vaccination season -- starting in September if possible -- and keep giving the shots beyond Christmas, advised public health officials and medical society representatives at a recent meeting.

With an abundant vaccine supply expected for the upcoming flu season and additional manufacturers to help stabilize the supply, physicians should incorporate some new tactics to battle seasonal flu.

The calendar shouldn't run this show, concluded participants at the 2007 National Influenza Vaccine Summit held last month in Atlanta. The event, sponsored by the American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, occurs at least annually.

Early signs indicate that there could be 132 million doses available -- the most ever in a single season. So using it all and avoiding having to discard doses at the end of the season will require a plan.

The vaccine system's ongoing challenge during the past several years has centered on an uneven distribution system and too few manufacturers. With more firms entering the arena and researchers focusing on updating technology to produce vaccine more quickly, the challenge of getting the vaccine into patients will fall to physicians.

"The good news is that we will likely have an ample supply of vaccine, but the challenge will be to use it all and make sure that we don't waste any," said AMA President-elect Ron Davis, MD, who attended the summit.