Swine Flu Vaccine Update

H1N1 Vaccine Production Lower than Expected

Oct 20, 2009 Lawrence DiVizio

As cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza continue to increase across the United States, the production of the Swine Flu vaccine is lagging behind.

As recently as October 7, Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, said it was expected that large numbers of dosages of the vaccine would be in the hands of local health care authorities “within a week.” But nine days later, she said that the number of doses available was not as high as expected and that it would take longer to bring them to the public.

“It's very difficult to predict exactly how many doses we'll have in the weeks ahead,” Dr. Schuchat said. “We wish that we had more vaccine and there is more vaccine coming out every day but it doesn't look like we're going to be able to make those estimates that we had projected for the end of this month.”

The delay is being caused by the nature of the vaccine and the manner in which it is grown. The antigen, the component that stimulates the body to produce antibodies, is not being produced in the amounts anticipated in the growth medium. This then requires a longer period of time to produce a given number of doses.

Regardless of the reason behind the backlog in production, there will a shortfall of the vaccine that approaches 30 percent by the end of the month.

“We had hoped and I think our last estimate about expected vaccine (production) that we made several weeks ago was that by the end of the month we might be around 40 million doses,” Dr. Schuchat said. “We think at most it might be … about a 10 to 12 million doses less than that by the end of the month.”

Swine Flu Shots for Health Care, Police and Fire

But even with an estimated 30 million doses to be available by the end of the month, it will not be available to the general public. Each state and local health department establishes their own guidelines as to who will receive the vaccinations first. And at this point many agencies are limiting this to health care providers and first responders, such as police and fire personnel.

“(There are) a lot of different approaches,” Dr. Schuchat said of the distribution process. “Some of the states have set up some appointments through their local health departments. Others are vaccinating health care workers in the larger hospitals in the state. We've heard of some good school located venues that have begun to be offered in certain areas, so there's a lot of variability. Public access to more vaccines just might take time.

We are working closely with the states and cities to work out the bumps we have seen. The states need some time to plan their venue based on when the vaccine comes out and they are working to use the vaccine effectively.”

Locating Swine Flu Vaccine

The CDC maintains a system for the public to check on the availability of the vaccine in their local areas and when immunizations will be available. By going to the site Flu.gov, individuals can access an interactive map that will link them to their state or local health departments.

When the doses of the vaccine reaches levels that it is offered to the general public, Dr. Schuchat says it remains important that as many people as possible take advantage of the protection.

“As a doctor and a public health expert and someone who's been hearing a lot about the very severe illnesses, I take this virus very seriously,” Schuchat said. “Based on everything that I know, vaccine is the best protection against this virus.”

Second Swine Flu Outbreak

Another consideration of the immunization programs is the fact that there could be a second outbreak of the virus in the spring.

“We have been doing quite a bit of looking back at the 1957-1958 outbreaks,” Dr. Schuchat said. “In 1957 we saw the disease in October and November as we are seeing here and then another surge after the first of the year. So I want to remind people that not being vaccinated or not having their children vaccinated puts them at risk.”

Dr. Schuchat added that while the general public waits for the vaccine to become available, they should take advantage of the time to find out any information they might need, “to make an informed decision about their choice,” she added.

H1N1 Influenza, Children and Young Adults

With the bulk of those being affected by 2009 H1N1 in the age group under 24-years-old, the doctor stressed the importance parents and care givers have in making sure anyone ill with the virus receives the proper care.

“Parents must watch for the warning signs,” Schuchat said. “You have good instincts (about your child) and regardless of what we have on paper, if you see something wrong call your doctor. If something is not right, if a young child is not taking their feedings, is hard to wake or has a bluish cast to their lips, it is an emergency and they need care.”

As vaccine production continues, it is hoped that there will be upwards of 100-million doses available making it possible for the general public to be immunized, she added.

For information on the dangers the H1N1 virus poses to children see: Swine Flu in Children

To find out who the vaccine is and isn't recommended for see: Vaccination Recommendations

The copyright of the article Swine Flu Vaccine Update in General Medicine is owned by Lawrence DiVizio. Permission to republish Swine Flu Vaccine Update in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Distribution of Influenza Vaccine Slower Than Hope

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