Gardiner Harris (1) reported on October 25, 2005 that it is highly likely that there will be an adequate supply of flu vaccine in the United States this year despite the fact that there are some spot shortages. Some physicians and health clinics described by Harris (1) have indicated that they have limited supplies of flu vaccine available, but Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt and representatives of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) predict that as the flu season develops, these shortages will be largely eliminated.
Harris (1-2) also reported that at this point in time, only eight states have reported flu cases with flu season expected to peak in January and February. The current apparent shortage of flu vaccine is due to the fact that the country is in a transition period, but as more and more Americans decide to be vaccinated against the flu every year, supplies will become more abundant. Previous policies requiring physicians to limit vaccinations to the elderly, the very young, the sick, and health care providers have been eased and it is anticipated that between 70 to 88 million doses of flu vaccine will be available this year.
The specific problem addressed by Harris (2-3) is that the timing of flu vaccine shipments is as critical as the total supply of such vaccines because many people simply do not elect to receive a vaccine after the second week in December and are therefore vulnerable to an outbreak of this particular illness. Seasonal flu kills an average of 36,000 Americans each year, leads to the hospitalization of 200,000 individuals and exerts a negative impact upon schooling and the workplace (Harris, 2). It also places strains on Health Maintenance Organizations which must provide their clients with an adequate supply of the vaccine. For the poor or individuals lacking adequate insurance, payment for this vaccine can be problematic.
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