Tonka
Well-known member
http://www.smh.com.au/national/flu-vaccine-shortages-as-demand-increases-20100430-tzb3.html
Flu vaccine shortages as demand increases
AMY CORDEROY AND MARK METHERELL
May 1, 2010
TENS of thousands of Australians have been unable to get flu shots as a shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine delays vaccination programs across the country.
A number of companies that provide workplace vaccination programs have been forced to suspend them after difficulty obtaining the vaccine.
There had been "unprecedented demand" for the vaccine this year, said Greg Caleo, managing director of Calastica, a workplace health provider.
Advertisement: Story continues belowHis company had been forced to cancel 30,000 injections that were scheduled for this month.
About 10,000 Medibank Health Solutions customers had their vaccinations moved to a later date, a spokeswoman said, and a number of other smaller companies told the Herald they had been forced to cancel or delay their programs.
While the increased popularity of the vaccine may be partly to blame for the delay, there have also been problems getting enough vaccine into the country.
One of the three main companies that sell the vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur, has been unable to distribute its supplies on time because of delays in the production of swine flu vaccine and disruption caused by the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano.
Brent MacGregor, the general manager of Sanofi Pasteur, said Sanofi had prioritised supplying its existing stocks to high-risk patients.
A spokeswoman for CSL said the company had filled its orders but was producing more vaccine because of increased demand.
Alan Hampson, the chairman of the Influenza Specialist Group in Australia, said there had been delays importing enough flu vaccine in times of peak demand.
"It does seem as if there is a higher patient awareness of influenza at the moment, and that is a good thing," he said.
Flu vaccine shortages as demand increases
AMY CORDEROY AND MARK METHERELL
May 1, 2010
TENS of thousands of Australians have been unable to get flu shots as a shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine delays vaccination programs across the country.
A number of companies that provide workplace vaccination programs have been forced to suspend them after difficulty obtaining the vaccine.
There had been "unprecedented demand" for the vaccine this year, said Greg Caleo, managing director of Calastica, a workplace health provider.
Advertisement: Story continues belowHis company had been forced to cancel 30,000 injections that were scheduled for this month.
About 10,000 Medibank Health Solutions customers had their vaccinations moved to a later date, a spokeswoman said, and a number of other smaller companies told the Herald they had been forced to cancel or delay their programs.
While the increased popularity of the vaccine may be partly to blame for the delay, there have also been problems getting enough vaccine into the country.
One of the three main companies that sell the vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur, has been unable to distribute its supplies on time because of delays in the production of swine flu vaccine and disruption caused by the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano.
Brent MacGregor, the general manager of Sanofi Pasteur, said Sanofi had prioritised supplying its existing stocks to high-risk patients.
A spokeswoman for CSL said the company had filled its orders but was producing more vaccine because of increased demand.
Alan Hampson, the chairman of the Influenza Specialist Group in Australia, said there had been delays importing enough flu vaccine in times of peak demand.
"It does seem as if there is a higher patient awareness of influenza at the moment, and that is a good thing," he said.