Nursing

News spotlight: Flu vaccine stockpiles fall short of goal

Nurse Leader Weekly, August 24, 2009

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The U.S. will have only accrued 45 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine—also known as the swine flu vaccine—by a previously-imposed October deadline, instead of the 120 million doses ordered. The delay is due to manufacturing issues, but the federal government expects 20 million more doses to be delivered each week until the entire order of 195 million doses has been completed.

The shortfall will delay attempts to vaccinate as many high-risk Americans in October as planned, although the campaign will start in a reduced effort. The first to be vaccinated will be pregnant women, children, and healthcare workers, as well as young adults who have conditions that put them at particular risk, such as asthma.

The delay does not extend to the seasonal flu vaccine. Supplies of this vaccine are ample and vaccination programs for the regular flu season have already begun.

Source: The Washington Post



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