ATLANTA, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- An abundant supply of flu vaccine is projected for the 2006-2007 U.S. flu season -- up to 115 million doses -- but some will be delayed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta says flu vaccine cannot be produced all at once, and as a result, distributors do not receive their vaccine all at once. When distributors do receive vaccine from manufacturers, it is delivered to healthcare providers in a matter of days.
To date, about 40 million doses of flu vaccine have reached consumers, and the CDC projects that this year's record amount of vaccine will be available throughout the flu season, which extends into November, December and beyond.
In 2005 about 35 percent of flu vaccine was sold to healthcare providers via distribution, and eight out of 10 doses delivered via distributors go to office-based physicians.
The remaining 65 percent of flu vaccine was sold directly to healthcare providers from manufacturers, whose direct customers include pharmacies, retail stores, clinics, hospitals, mass immunizers and others, according to the Health Industry Distributors Association.
