Following the license suspension of a leading flu vaccine manufacturer last week, University Medical Center officials are saying vaccine rationing will need to take place locally.
Student Health officials have already decided to cancel the annual flu immunization drive held for students in Newcomb Hall Ballroom.
Last Tuesday, the Chiron Corporation announced that the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency temporarily revoked the company's license to produce their Fluvirin vaccine amid fears that the vaccine was contaminated with a bacterium.
"Basically, nearly half of the total doses of vaccine that we thought we'd have for the flu season we don't have," said Karen Hunter, senior press officer for the Center for Disease Control.
Hunter said the Chiron Corporation was one of only two firms to manufacture an inactive flu vaccine, the type of vaccine used most for immunization. The other firm, Aventis Pasteur, will be the sole supplier of inactivated flu vaccines to the American market.
University Medical Center Epidemiologist Keri Hall said it would be "impossible to know whether the magnitude of this flu season will be any worse or better than usual."
Hall said the Center was fortunate in receiving all of the vaccine supply it originally requested from Aventis.
She added that University health officials currently are assessing the amount of vaccines available for optimal use within the hospital, clinic and community.
Dr. James Turner, executive director of the Elson Student Health Center, said the flu shot shortage will result in a dramatic decrease in the number of students able to receive vaccinations in light of the Newcomb Hall mass immunization drive's cancellation.
"On a local level, I'm certainly concerned," Turner said. "We've managed to get 3,500 to 4,000 students immunized each year. We're estimating only about 200-250 students will fall into the CDC categories that will permit us to vaccinate. I think it could be a pretty bad flu year for us."
Turner said that in years where vaccinations are given, Student Health sees between 100-200 flu patients. This is significantly less than the 600-700 patients in years where vaccinations are unavailable.
Even with the higher influx of flu patients, Turner said Student Health facilities will be able to respond to the added demand.
"We are not looking forward to it but we have more than adequate staffing," Turner said, adding that he expects 400-500 more cases on Grounds this flu season. "It's just going to make January and February more unpleasant months at Student Health."
The CDC has labeled certain groups as having a high priority for receiving the limited flu vaccines this year. These groups mostly include the very young and elderly, expectant mothers, healthcare givers and those with pre-existent chronic medical problems.
"Because vaccine supply has been cut in half, Americans need to be more vigilant when they become ill and during the flu months in general," Hall said.
Hunter stressed the importance for healthy people to reserve the vaccines for those most in need.
"Every flu shot that a healthy person gets means there is one less for someone who really needs it," she said.
Both Turner and Hall said the flu can be prevented through good hygiene habits, including frequent hand-washing, covering mouths while coughing or sneezing, and staying out of contact with others if one suspects an influenza infection.
"If students think they have the flu they shouldn't go out or go to classes," Turner said. "They should come see us at Student Health. I think with good health practices they can help stop the flu from spreading to the community."
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