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CDC expects 100 million doses of flu vaccine

 Influenza vaccine manufacturers say they expect to produce and distribute more than 100 million doses of the flu vaccine for the U.S. market between now and early January 2007.

     According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), manufacturers have already begun to ship this season’s influenza vaccine, with almost all of the vaccine expected to be shipped and distributed in October and November. Manufacturers and major distributors are implementing policies designed to provide some influenza vaccine by the end of October to all providers who ordered it, says the CDC.

     The 100 million doses mark, if reached, would be at least 17 million more doses of influenza vaccine than has ever been distributed in the past (previous high was 83.1 million doses in 2003) and about 19 million more doses than were distributed last year (81.2 million).

     While the best time for vaccination is October and November before the influenza season typically begins, says the CDC, vaccination in December and later can still provide protection because during most years influenza does not peak until February or later.

     Each year in the U.S. between 5% and 20% of the population is infected with influenza, about 36,000 people die, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized because of influenza complications.

     Click here for more information about influenza.

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