Influenza Vaccine In The USA Is Not Enough

Influenza Vaccine In The USA Is Not Enough.
Sporadic shortages of both the flu vaccine and the flu healing Tamiflu are being reported, as this year's powerful flu period continues, according to a top US health official. "We have received reports that some consumers have found speckle shortages of the vaccine," Dr Margaret Hamburg, commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, said on her blog on the agency's website. Hamburg said that the instrumentality is "monitoring this picture and will update you at our website and at flu dot gov".

So far, more than 128 million doses of flu vaccine have been distributed, Hamburg said, but not all the doses have been administered to men and women yet. She said that subjects who already have the flu may also be experiencing local shortages of Tamiflu, a drug that can help treat influenza. "We do obviate intermittent, temporary shortages of the oral suspension form of Tamiflu - the transparent version often prescribed for children - for the remainder of the flu season.

However, FDA is working with the maker to increase supply," she said. Hamburg also noted that "FDA-approved instructions on the label contribute directions for pharmacists on how to compound a liquid form of Tamiflu from Tamiflu capsules". Flu mature typically peaks in January or February but can extend as late as May.