WASHINGTON -- Federal and state officials and doctors across the country are expressing alarm at shortages, delays and uncertainty in the production and supply of major childhood vaccines.

The delays and shortages have forced some states to ration vaccines, set new priorities and revise their immunization policies and requirements.

Colorado, for example, has reduced the number of shots a child must have to enroll in school or in a day care center, and as a result, some children have less protection against diseases like diphtheria and whooping cough.

Vincent Sacco, manager of the state immunization program in Connecticut, said the problems were the worst he has seen in 19 years of running the state program.

In a bulletin sent to states last week, the federal government reported shortages of vaccines against four of the 11 diseases preventable through routine vaccination of children: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and pneumococcal disease, which can cause meningitis and pneumonia.

In addition, the government said, many doctors have experienced serious delays in the delivery of vaccine for influenza, chicken pox, measles, mumps, rubella and hepatitis B.

Two of the largest manufacturers, Merck & Co. and Wyeth Lederle Vaccines, a unit of American Home Products, acknowledged the problems.

Merck said it was "experiencing intermittent shortages of some of our vaccines," including the one for measles, mumps and rubella. The company said it curtailed vaccine production over the summer because it was making changes at its manufacturing plant in West Point, Pa.

In a recent letter to doctors, Wyeth apologized for the inconvenience caused by shortages of Prevnar, its vaccine for pneumococcal disease. Spokesman Douglas Petkus said demand had exceeded expectations, and the company had to change manufacturing methods at a plant where it experienced a bottleneck.

The federal government estimates the nation needs 1.4 million to 1.6 million doses of Prevnar each month to protect infants and toddlers against life-threatening diseases caused by the pneumococcal bacteria. But, it says, the supply averaged 707,000 doses a month in September and October. Children are supposed to get four doses in the first 15 months of life.

Some manufacturers have halted production of certain vaccines after concluding that they were unprofitable. Drug companies are not required to inform the government if they intend to stop making a particular vaccine.

Now, members of Congress are asking whether the federal government ought to play a larger role in managing the supply of vaccine. The Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, said last month that the government should create a National Vaccine Authority to help companies produce and distribute vaccine.

Pioneer Planet

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2001

Answers

Drug shortages began in the year 2000. This was
one of the predicted effects of Y2K.

Current Drug Shortage Listing

-- Anonymous, December 02, 2001

CO: Drug shortage hits hospitals

WA: Drug shortages raise alarm at hospitals

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001