Manufacturers Step-Up Production of H1N1 Vaccine

So far, as many as 5.7 million Americans have been infected with the H1N1 flu virus, which is widespread in 48 states—an unprecedented level for the early weeks of flu season. Yet the H1N1 vaccine supply continues to lag far behind what officials had estimated would be available, leaving public health departments, clinics, and doctor’s offices across the country scrambling for ways to vaccinate those at highest risk for complications. Officials initially announced that 120 million doses would be available by October 1. That number was later amended to 40 million, but as of Friday, only 26.6 million doses had been shipped. Even President Barack Obama has expressed frustration with the delays and Senators Joseph I. Lieberman and Susan Collins sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius demanding details about the lag in production.

On Saturday, Sebelius explained that initial estimates were based on “overly optimistic” predictions by the five contracted vaccine makers for the U.S. market, and offered assurances that production has been increased and another 10 million doses should arrive this coming week. “The vaccine is beginning to roll in larger volumes. And it’s being distributed as quickly as it comes off the line,” she said. “It’s being shipped overnight. We’re getting it from producers seven days a week.”

David Axelrod, President Barack Obama’s senior advisor, reiterated that the administration represented to the public what they were told by the vaccine manufacturers, but said the problem is improving every day and predicted the U.S. will have all the H1N1 vaccine it needs “in very short order.”

Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced its decision to include prisoners in the priority groups for the H1N1 vaccine, including those at the detention center for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Their decision was based on U.S. government assessments that people held in detention facilities are at high risk for the pandemic. However, the decision is being criticized by lawmakers in both parties. “I don't think it’s a good idea," House Minority Leader John Boehner said of giving the shots to the Guantanamo detainees. “The administration probably didn’t think it would be very popular either, that’s why they announced it on Friday night. We have prisoners in my own home county who are going to get H1N1 shots while there are vulnerable populations who want the shots who can’t get them. I just think that’s wrong.”

Sebelius said the U.S. still plans to participate in the 11-nation program to donate 10 percent of its vaccine supply to developing countries, but only after the priority populations here had been vaccinated. “The first priority is to get the vaccine to the American people,” she said. “That’s always been the plan. It continues to be the plan.” She noted, however, that vaccinations are also critical in developing countries and refugee camps, where hundreds of thousands of people could die as a result of the flu.

Worldwide, more than 5,700 deaths associated with H1N1 had been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) as of October 25. At least 1,300 Americans have died from the virus, including 114 children.