Senator Larry Craig Calls for Passage of the Flu Protection Act

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 17 Nov 2004 - 17:00 PDT

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USA - At a hearing today on the nation's flu vaccine situation, US Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) called for quick action from the Food and Drug Administration to ensure adequate supplies for next year's flu season, and for passage of the Flu Protection Act he is cosponsoring with Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Indiana).

"We have absolutely no time to waste in addressing this issue and making the necessary changes to assure an adequate supply of vaccine in the future," Craig said.

"Flu manufacturers are now making decisions in order to fill orders for next year. We can't wait until Congress is in full swing in February to address next year's supply challenges. By then it will be too late, especially if Chiron Corporation is unable to start production next year. Flu is a worldwide killer and the need for vaccine is clear - and yet, the market has dwindled to the point that the pullout of just one company can devastate our supply."

In 1967 there were 26 makers of all types of vaccines. By 1980 that number had fallen to 17. By 1994 the number of influenza vaccine manufacturers was down to five: Wyeth, Evans (now part of Chiron), Connaught (now part of Aventis), Parke Davis and Lederle. By 1999 there were just four. Today there are just three flu vaccine makers involved in the U.S. market - Aventis, Chiron and MedImmune. Both the Chiron and MedImmune vaccines are manufactured in England.

"The simple truth is, the short-term solution is for the FDA to allow more importation of safe vaccines from other nations. But the long-term solution is to get more vaccine production within the U.S., and that is what the legislation I am sponsoring with Sen. Bayh seeks to achieve," Craig said. "I remain hopeful that the Senate will pass our legislation before we close this session of Congress."

Under the Flu Protection Act, vaccine makers would receive a tax credit for investing in the construction of new facilities in the United States, or renovation of production facilities.

The legislation would also allow the federal government to buy up a certain portion of any unused vaccines at the end of the season. Vaccines need to be changed each season to meet new strains of the flu virus and last year one flu vaccine maker had to discard 5 million of the 43 million doses it produced.

But even if the Flu Protection Act passes this week, getting flu vaccine production levels up quickly will not be easy. It presently takes manufacturers five years or more to bring a vaccine production facility on-line.

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