SC medical school loses 10,000 flu vaccine doses

[Treyfish]

The Associated Press
Published Thursday, October 8, 2009



CHARLESTON, S.C. ? The Medical University of South Carolina has destroyed more than 10,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine after they were frozen during shipment.
The school was only able to salvage about 2,600 doses. Officials say freezing the vaccine makes it ineffective.
MUSC spokeswoman Heather Woolwine says the hospital planned to give the vaccine to all its patients and employees, but the loss of doses means the shots will be rationed to the people who need them the most. Doctors are encouraging others to get the vaccine from elsewhere.
MUSC officials say they are trying to find more vaccine, but prospects aren't good.
The maker of the vaccine, Novartis, says the doses were frozen after leaving its facility. http://www.islandpacket.com/front/story/993306.html