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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had
two choices when it came down to which flu formula to use
for winter 2003. Should they stick with the same formula used
last year in 2002, knowing that a new strain of the bug was
developing? Or should they attempt to make a new vaccine that
could possibly come with complications or delays and that
could result in a shortage?
The first sign of the new flu bug showed up just two weeks
before the committee was scheduled to meet. The scientists
who track the flu had noticed a new strain was gathering mass.
The overall decision to bring back the older version was decided
on the fact that there wasn’t enough time to produce
a new flu vaccine.
The committee met this past February and was told that the
current vaccine might not work in protecting people from the
new strain.
Even though the committee voted 17-1 to bring back last year’s
version, they all have admitted that they made the wrong decision.
ABC
News December 15, 2003
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