After months of talk of a flu-shot shortage, it appears the shortage has turned into a surplus. Many states already have enough flu vaccine to meet demand, yet Aventis Pasteur, the primary supplier of flu-shot vaccines to the United States, has 3.3 million doses ready to distribute, GlaxoSmithKline is ready to ship 1.2 million shots from Europe and MedImmune, which makes a nasal vaccine, also has doses ready.

This is despite the fact that the United States lost close to half of its flu vaccine supply in the fall of 2004 after contamination fears surrounding 48 million doses from manufacturer Chiron arose.

Demands for flu shots were lessened because of a mild flu season, coupled with the fact that many high-risk individuals opted not to get the flu shot because they believed other people needed it more. Many fear that the excess flu vaccines will be wasted.

Though some states (Florida, Louisiana and Pennsylvania) do have vaccine shortages, here is a breakdown of individual states struggling to use up excess vaccines:

• In California, 200,000 doses are available and 300,000 more will be available soon
• Arizona canceled 10,000 dose orders due to lack of demand
• Minnesota has 20,000 to 25,000 doses available (and this is after shipping some to Louisiana)
• Massachusetts could get 60,000 more doses but doesn't want them because they still have doses available
• Washington has 30,000 doses left and is eligible for 160,000 more

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended loosening flu-shot restrictions so that more people would be eligible to receive the vaccine. The original guidelines allowed only those 65 years and older or in other high-risk groups to get the flu shot. That has since been loosened to include anyone age 50 and older.

USA Today January 7, 2005