Slate's Bizbox
recycled: Previously published Slate articles made new.

Flu-Shot ShortageWhy can't we just make more?


Posted Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004, at 4:39 PM ET

With the flu season nearly upon us, health officials announced Tuesday that the country's vaccine supply has been suddenly cut in half, after the British plant slated to provide the United States with 46 million doses of the vaccine was closed down due to contamination concerns. Health officials have asked healthy adults to delay or forgo flu shots altogether, so remaining stocks of vaccine will be available for infants, the elderly, and others for whom the flu poses a greater health risk. Why can't a U.S. supplier simply step up production and produce more? Last year, Ed Finn explained the time-consuming process required to manufacture the annual supply of flu vaccine.

Print This ArticlePRINTDiscuss this in The FrayDISCUSSEmail to a FriendE-MAIL
Share on FacebookPost to MySpace!Share with MixxDigg ThisShare with RedditShare with del.icio.usShare with FurlShare with Ma.gnolia.comShare with SphereShare with Stumble Upon
Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum
What did you think of this article?
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES
Washington Post
The Washington Post
OPINIONS
Assessing Sarah Palin
| Newt Gingrich, Grover Norquist, John Podesta and others weigh in.
Colbert King: She's No HillaryEditorial: Is She Ready for This?
PLUS » PostPartisan: Quick Takes from Opinions