| Show Question and Answer on Influenza Season Susan Levine The Tune Washington Post Preparations for this years year's influenza season were upended upend upend- ed Tuesday when federal officials officials officials announced that the country's country's country's coun coun- try's supply of flu vaccine would be half of what had been expected Clinics offering offering offering offer offer- ing the flu shot were canceled the few that continued to operate operate operate oper oper- ate were mobbed The problem lies with one of the two vaccine There were contamination contamina contamina- tion problems at the manufacturers manufacturer's manufacturers manufacturer's manufacturers manufacturer's Liverpool plant When British authorities suspended operations there US U.S. health officials began scrambling to ensure that the people at highest high high- est risk get the flu shots avail avail- able Niranjan Bhat medical epidemiologist epidemiologist epidemiologist epi epi- in the influenza branch at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention answered questions questions questions ques ques- about the problem and about the coming flu season Q How many Americans are in the risk high-risk groups including children younger than 2 and adults 65 and older individuals with chronic ill illnesses illnesses illnesses ill ill- nesses such as asthma diabetes diabetes diabetes dia dia- betes and heart disease and pregnant women that are targeted targeted targeted tar tar- for the 55 million flu- flu shot doses the country expects to receive A. A An estimated million million million mil mil- lion people are in those high- high risk groups Q Based on past response rates how much of that supply will be used for the risk high-risk groups A. A Its It's impossible to speculate speculate speculate late how many of those included in the risk high-risk groups will get vaccinated this year However based on past years only about half of those who are recommended to get vaccinated actually do Q Are there any other companies companies companies com com- producing a flu vaccine for countries elsewhere in the world and if so why can the United States not secure doses from them A. A There are about a dozen to 15 influenza vaccine manufacturers manufacturers manufacturers man man- worldwide The Food and Drug Administration regulates vaccines vaccines vaccines vac vac- cines in the US U.S. and would likely be the best source for information about how or if doses could be secured and used in the United States Q If production were started started started start start- ed immediately when might additional vaccine doses be available A. A Vaccine production is a au u lengthy process By the time that vaccine would be manufactured manufactured manufactured manu manu- and available it would be very unlikely to help protect people during this flu season Q How bad is this coming flu season predicted to be especially compared with the past one which hit earlier and with more intensity than anticipated anticipated anticipated antic antic- A. A It is not possible to accurately accurately accurately predict the features of any influenza season before the season begins Although epidemics of flu happen in most years the beginning severity and length of the flu season can vary widely from year to year Unfortunately flu seasons are very unpredictable Q What can you say about the strains of influenza expected expect expect- ed this winter A. A Influenza viruses are constantly changing so it is not unusual for new strains of influenza to emerge at any anytime anytime time tune of the year As of mid- mid September both influenza A and B viruses were detected in inthe inthe inthe the United States The influenza strains contained contained contained con con- in the years year's vaccine are a good match for the viruses virus virus- es that have been detected |
