U.S. H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Shortages

The U.S. originally planned to have 120 million doses of the swine flu vaccine available by October 15^th. This number has been cut by a third, to only 45 million doses, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Now they do not even expect to have the full 195 million doses ordered by the government until December.

Will this be enough to supply the demand for vaccinations? The U.S. mass vaccination program is scheduled to start in October. However, if there are early outbreaks of HINI swine flu in September and October, increased demands for the vaccine could lead to shortages.

The Department of Health and Human Services says that there will still be enough vaccine available for the priority groups that they have identified. These include pregnant women, children under the age of 4, and public health workers, to be followed by younger adults with flu-risk conditions such as asthma. As for everyone else, who knows if they will be guaranteed the vaccine? An increased demand for the swine flu vaccine, combined with unanticipated production shortages, could result in many people getting sick who could have been protected otherwise.

H1N1 swine flu vaccine shortages are not just happening in the United Sates. Manufactures all over the world are having problems with producing the vaccine. One of the issues is a problem with estimated production yields. H1N1 influenza is a particular strain of the flu that produces eggs more slowly than regular. Thus, it is taking longer than anticipated for the vaccine to be created. Other problems leading to vaccine shortages include packaging issues. Apparently there have been delays in manufacturing the vaccine due to a problem with getting the doses into the syringes needed to administer them. Also, there are delays in testing of the swine flu vaccines to ensure they are at the proper strength before being used.

The H1N1 swine flu epidemic has been mild so far, but it could become more serious as temperatures start to drop in the northern hemisphere. As flu season hits, the number of people who contract the H1N1 influenza is expected to increase rapidly. If there aren't enough doses of the vaccination for those in need, many people could end up sick, in the hospital, or even killed by the swine flu.

The H1N1 swine flu has now spread to nearly 180 countries around the world. According to Margaret Chan, head of the World Health Organization, the northern hemisphere will be considered more at risk to spreading of the flu due to colder temperatures. Therefore, developing countries in the northern hemisphere will receive more doses of the swine flu vaccine than those in the southern hemisphere. This could spell disaster for people living in the developing countries in southern regions such as Africa. Many people in Africa, who are already suffering from HIV, malaria, and malnourishment, are more vulnerable to contracting swine flu and are at greater risk of it being sever and leading to death. If there are vaccine shortages in North America, imagine the shortages for those people in poor countries like Africa, who already suffer from diseases.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/

World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/en/