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By
Paul Simao
ATLANTA
(Reuters) - A glitch in the production of flu vaccine
means millions of Americans will likely face delays getting
their annual shots this winter, though the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (news - web sites)
(CDC) says it does not expect a shortage of the life-saving
vaccine.
The
Atlanta-based agency estimated that a total of 75 million
doses of flu vaccine, including 9 million extra doses
provided by a private manufacturer, would be available
for flu season, enough to meet usual demand.
But
it said Friday that a substantial amount of vaccine would
reach doctors and other health-care providers later than
usual, and recommended that those at high risk, such as
the elderly, chronically ill and health-care workers,
be vaccinated first.
The
length of delays would depend on manufacturers, distributors
and when vaccine was ordered. Most Americans get their
flu shots in the last three months of the year.
``There
are some shipments of vaccine going out from the manufacturers
right now and we know that the percentage, or the amount
out at this time this year compared to previous years,
is less,'' said CDC spokeswoman Barbara Reynolds.
An
estimated 110,000 Americans require hospital treatment
and 20,000 die every year from influenza.
The
CDC recommends vaccination for those aged 50 and older
and those with diabetes, immunosuppression disorders,
severe anemia and chronic diseases of the heart, lungs
or kidneys.
Residents
of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities, women more
than three months pregnant in flu season, those in close
contact with high-risk groups and children and teenagers
taking aspirin for long periods are also urged to get
immunized.
In
an update released on Thursday, the CDC also urged mass
vaccination campaigns be scheduled for later in the flu
season and healthy people aged 50 to 64 delay their shots
until December or later.
A
delayed vaccination schedule would likely still protect
most people if the flu season followed its trend of not
peaking until January or later. Two weeks are generally
needed for a person to become fully immune after receiving
the vaccine.
The
problems with the flu vaccine, which health officials
had described as unprecedented, cropped up several months
ago when it was revealed that flu strains in this year's
vaccine had grown more slowly than expected in laboratories.
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