10 million H1N1 doses due next week

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- H1N1 vaccine shortages could be eased next week with the arrival of 10 million new doses of vaccine, U.S. officials said.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Saturday manufacturers are shipping vaccine seven days a week. Top White House adviser David Axelrod said Sunday the United States will have an ample supply of vaccine "in very short order," the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

Administration officials had said 40 million doses of H1N1 vaccine would be available and vaccine makers would be shipping 20 million doses each week by the end of October. Sebelius said Saturday the estimates were based on "overly optimistic" projections by vaccine makers.

She reiterated the United States intends to give 10 percent of its vaccine supply to developing countries but not until people identified as belong to priority groups in the United States have been vaccinated.

"The first priority is to get the vaccine to the American people," she told CNN.