More H1N1 Vaccine Expected in the Following Weeks
H1N1
New Bedford Standard Times
Burcu Karakas
Boston University Washington News Service
11.17.2009
WASHINGTON—Leaders of a Senate committee expressed disappointment and frustration Tuesday over the slow pace of distribution of the H1N1 vaccine.
Speaking at a committee hearing Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said there have been “more flu deaths than previously realized and fewer vaccine does than originally promised.” He said this created public frustration and confusion among those with the highest risk.
He cited a report last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that 22 million people have been made ill by the H1N1 virus, with 98,000 people needing hospitalization and about 4,000 people dying from the flu or from complications associated with the virus.
Lieberman noted that the estimated 120 million to 160 million doses promised to be available were not delivered. Instead, he said, there are now 42 million doses, equal to the number of highest-risk individuals.
“Things looked better two weeks ago, when 11 million more doses were delivered, with another 8 million doses projected to be available this week,” he said. “But by last Friday only about 5 million more were available.”
Sen. Susan M. Collins (R-Maine), the committee’s senior minority member, criticized the shortfall and expressed her frustration and anger.
“It is mid-November, and we know that supply production is still lagging behind those repeated assurances,” Collins said. She invited the administration to work more closely with state and local public health officials.
Nicole Lurie, the Health and Human Services assistant secretary for preparedness and response, said an increase in the amount of vaccine is expected in the weeks ahead.
She said increasing the investments in technology and manufacture capacity is vital to preparing for and responding to threats. She added that health care facilities need to be supported during the current pandemic.
Alex Garza, the assistant Homeland Security secretary for health affairs, said the department continues to monitor the pandemic at state, local and tribal levels.
Rear Adm. Anne Schuchat, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said a national campaign to encourage domestic and international travelers to take steps to prevent the spread of flu will be launched. She added that during the holidays, reducing the spread of the H1N1 virus among those who are traveling will be important.
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