Large amount of flu vaccine unused Japan

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 15 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT


Influenza vaccines sufficient to immunize about 360,000 people remained unused from December to January, while at least 29,000 senior citizens did not receive inoculations during the same period, a recent survey by the Japan Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry found.

According to the survey, 182,000 units of vaccine, which could have been administered to approximately 360,000 adults, were found unused, including those that remained unshipped from wholesalers. About 137,000 units were returned from medical institutions to the wholesalers.

A total of 14.8 million units of flu vaccines were supplied by the country's pharmaceutical companies for the season's projected inoculation demand, an increase of 40 percent from the previous year.

Some clinics and hospitals are suspected of ordering more than they could administer, as 416 institutions returned more than 100 units per hospital to wholesalers. One institution was found to have returned as many as 900 units.

The expected increase in demand for flu vaccination is due to fears among the people over SARS, which was rampant in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Canada last year.

No vaccines currently exist against SARS, a type of pneumonia, but SARS symptoms resemble those of flu, such as a sudden onset of fever and severe aches and pains.

The medical institutions returned their inventory vaccines to wholesalers in late January, after the season's flu virus ceased to be highly contagious.

Despite the surplus, at least 29,000 individuals aged 65 or older were not vaccinated, according to the ministry.

Ministry officials said the ministry would consider improvements in pharmaceutical distribution channels, especially those for vaccines.

Yomiuri Shimbun
From: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20040515wo34.htm
Copyright 2004 The Yomiuri Shimbun

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