In the 2004 flu season, Chiron cut its production of flu vaccine doses for the U.S. market by almost half--due to quality control issues at its plant in Liverpool, England. With the 2005 flu season rapidly approaching, it appears the company will again produce fewer doses than originally planned, due to stringent work procedures and "strained" workers.
But Chiron's problems don't stop there ...
The company announced that problems at another manufacturing facility in Marburg, Germany will prevent the production of its Begrivac flu vaccine for European markets as well.
A Resurfaced Problem
It seems quality tests have again discovered sterility problems for Chiron, this time in Germany.
Expected manufacturing of the Bergrivac vaccine has been reduced by some two-thirds (from 12 million to 4 million doses), disabling Chiron from supplying the vaccine to Germany and the United Kingdom for the coming flu season.
The dilemma raises concerns regarding whether the company will be able to resolve its manufacturing tribulations in time to provide the United States with the flu vaccine it needs. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists are currently in the midst of conducting an inspection that will determine if Chiron will be allowed to sell its flu vaccine in the United States this fall.
Assistance from Elsewhere
Though aside from Chiron, the United States has a few flu vaccine providers up its sleeve:
Sanofi-Pasteur expects to produce as many as 60 million doses. Moreover, a new $150 million Sanofi-Pasteur factory--designed to boost the nation's precarious vaccine supply--is projected to be ready for production for the 2009 flu season.
MedImmune, also licensed to sell flu vaccine in the United States, may provide up to 3 million doses.
And if GlaxoSmithKline's application is approved by the FDA, the company could tack on 10 million more doses.
USA Today July 21, 2005
San Diego Union-Tribune July 20, 2005
Sure looks like we are heading into a repeat of last year where there will be massive vaccine shortages. While many will perceive this as a potential crisis, you and I know better--this is a major blessing in disguise.
However, you can expect more of the same fear campaign this year, which focuses on fear of dieing from the flu. Last year they claimed that 36,000 people died from the flu, but a major investigation found that this was completely exaggerated. There were only 753 people that actually died from the flu. The others actually died from pneumonia.
But even if you aren't convinced that it is unwise to avoid the flu vaccine, you still run the risk of receiving a vaccine that is loaded with mercury or that was improperly made.
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