Statement on Shortage of Flu Shots

DeLauro Statement on Shortage of Flu Shots

WASHINGTON - The federal government announced yesterday that U.S. Company Chiron Corp., based in California, would not be able to supply the 46 to 48 million doses it had been expected to provide due to bacterial contamination at its Liverpool, England manufacturing facility. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had anticipated on having 100 million doses available for this flu season. According to the GAO, each year an estimated 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations can be attributed to the flu. Seniors represent 90 percent of the deaths and 50 percent of the hospitalizations.

"I am extremely concerned by yesterday's announcement, which will have serious health consequences, particularly for American seniors.

"Last year's shortage of flu shots should have been a warning to this agency. Yet, this is another example of the Food and Drug Administration failing to carry out its job of ensuring the safety of drugs in this country. The FDA is proud of its relationship with its counterpart agencies overseas, but they did not learn from the British regulators that Chiron was experiencing problems until it was too late. Furthermore, when the CDC testified before my Appropriations Subcommittee, they said they had a contingency plan to address an emergency like this, but have yet to present any details of that plan.

"Protecting the health of the American people is a top responsibility of our government. But we are now in a situation where we are actually rationing access to this critical vaccine. Had these agencies been doing their jobs, they would have known this was coming and worked together to address this problem before it became the crisis that we see now."