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N.J. Optimistic on Availability of Flu Vaccine; State in 'Reasonably Good Shape'

Posted on: Thursday, 15 September 2005, 15:00 CDT

After a flu vaccine shortage last fall that caused long lines and lotteries, New Jersey health officials said Wednesday there will likely be enough vaccines this season for people at high risk of complications - barring unexpected problems or unusual demand.

"We are probably in reasonably good shape this year with flu vaccines if no surprises occur," said Fred M. Jacobs, commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services. "We'll have to keep our fingers crossed and hope."

State epidemiologist Eddy Bresnitz said that based on historical trends in recent years, there "may be enough" vaccines to serve all of those who are not high-risk as well. The state urged those at high risk of complications from the flu to get the vaccines, and urged health-care providers to give such patients priority until Oct. 24.

Those at high risk include residents of long-term care facilities, people 65 and older, residents with chronic heart or lung problems, all children aged 6 months to 23 months, caregivers and household contacts of babies under 6 months, pregnant women and health-care personnel who provide direct care.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, U.S. health officials are also urging people who spend time in crowded shelters to get vaccines. French company Sanofi Pasteur Inc. has donated 200,000 doses for use by these Katrina victims.

Last year, a major flu vaccine supplier, Chiron Corp., lost its manufacturing license because of contamination at a British plant, and half the anticipated American supply was lost. Health officials struggled to get extra doses from other suppliers.

Chiron, which projects making 18 million to 26 million doses this season, has not yet gotten final federal approval to sell its vaccines in the United States. Even so, Bresnitz said he expected a good supply to cover high-risk patients. He noted that Sanofi Pasteur plans to produce 60 million doses, GlaxoSmithKline Inc., projects 8 million and Medimmune Vaccines Inc. - which makes live attenuated influenza vaccines - plans about 3 million.

He said these companies stagger the deliveries of the doses, and some people who are not high-risk might have to be patient. "There may be some parts of the country, or even areas in particular states, where more people want to get the vaccine a little earlier than a provider might have it," he said.

He added later in the press conference that "there's no way of predicting how severe the [flu] season will be, and whether you have a lot of vaccine or a little."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 180 million Americans should get a flu shot every year, but fewer than half that number do so. Flu season can run from October through March, and people are urged to get flu shots in the fall. People with severe allergies to chicken eggs or flu vaccines, or who are sick with a fever, should avoid the vaccines.

An estimated 36,000 Americans die from complications of the flu in an average year, and 200,000 are hospitalized. For more information, see cdc.gov/flu.

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E-mail: brody@northjersey.com

Source: Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.

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