SANTA FE, N.M., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson Thursday joined with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in securing flu vaccine from Europe for their young, sick and elderly.
New Mexico has purchased 150,000 doses of vaccine from Illinois' total shipment of 300,000 doses, Richardson said. The vaccine is ready to be shipped within hours upon approval by the Food and Drug Administration.
Richardson urged the FDA to move quickly to approve the vaccine shipment. He also urged the federal government to take action to ensure adequate supplies of the vaccine in the future so states don't have to scramble for limited supplies.
Blagojevich said if the French-made Aventis vaccine is approved quickly nearly 400,000 of the most vulnerable residents of Illinois and New Mexico will get shots. He asked the FDA for approval more than a week ago.
The vaccine purchased by New Mexico and Illinois is made in Lyon, France, by Aventis Pasteur, the same firm that makes the only flu vaccine currently being used in the United States.
