(Circulation. 2001;104:e9003.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.
Cardiovascular News
Circulation Newswriter
Delay in Influenza Vaccine Supply Predicted
A delay in supplies of influenza vaccine for the 2001–2002 season can be expected, said officials with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta in an official statement. However, they noted that the delay is not expected to be as severe as that of the year before.
The CDC predicts that 64% of the vaccine needed for the new flu season will be available by October 2001, approximately twice the amount available in October 2000. The remaining needed doses should be available in November and December.
In May, the CDC advised physicians and health clinics to order their vaccine early, but they also said the agency did not anticipate a delay in the production of the vaccine, citing assurances from manufacturers and the US Food and Drug Administration. Now the delay in production is being blamed on a reduced number of licensed manufacturers of the vaccine. Only 3 manufacturers are currently producing the vaccine. There were 4 in 1999.
As it did last year, the CDC is recommending that early supplies of the vaccine be reserved for high-risk patients, including the elderly, those with chronic health conditions, and healthcare workers.
Mortality Rates Decline for Major Killers
The CDC reported declines in death rates for several leading mortality causes for the year 1999 in a July 26, 2001, report.
Age-adjusted mortality rates for both heart disease and cancer declined slightly, although the diseases remained the top causes of death. The age-adjusted mortality rate for diseases of the heart in 1998 was 269.7 deaths