Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How U.S. Got Down to Two Makers Of Flu Vaccine
The Washington Post ^ | October 17, 2004 | David Brown

Posted on 10/17/2004 12:24:49 PM PDT by neverdem

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals doesn't make flu shots anymore, and it doesn't miss them one bit.

For two decades, Wyeth made injectable influenza vaccine at a plant in Marietta, Pa. For the winter of 2002-03, it made 21 million doses in a labor-intensive, time-crunched process and shipped them to clinics and doctors' offices early in the fall.

But it turned out a lot fewer people wanted it. Flu vaccine can't be saved from year to year. So, sometime the next spring Wyeth threw away 7 million unsold doses, for a loss of $30 million. It then quit making flu shots. It eventually closed the Marietta plant, which once employed 800 people.

But Wyeth wasn't out of the flu vaccine business -- yet.

It was a partner with the Maryland biotech company, MedImmune, in making what they considered the flu shot of the future -- a "live" virus vaccine squirted up the nose. They made 5 million doses of FluMist for last winter, the product's inaugural season. But FluMist never found its market. Only 450,000 doses were sold; the rest were thrown away.

Last April, Wyeth pulled out. It was done with flu vaccine.

Wyeth's decisions go a long way toward explaining why the United States -- the world's richest market for medical products -- finds itself with only half the amount of vaccine it needs to protect its population against a disease that may contribute to more than 50,000 deaths this year.

The company's exit is part of a long, slow industry-wide flight away from flu vaccine, which has simply become more trouble than it's worth.

"It shouldn't be surprising to anybody," said Gregory A. Poland, director of the vaccine research group at the Mayo Clinic, in Minnesota. "In fact, I marvel that there are companies willing to stay in the business."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; US: Georgia; US: Pennsylvania; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: chiron; flu; fluvaccine; health; immunization; influenza; medicine; pharmaceuticals; tellthistolurch; vaccination
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-74 next last
If you don't want to register with WaPo, try bugmenot.com
1 posted on 10/17/2004 12:24:49 PM PDT by neverdem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: fourdeuce82d; El Gato; JudyB1938; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Robert A. Cook, PE; lepton; LadyDoc; jb6; ...

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.


2 posted on 10/17/2004 12:25:45 PM PDT by neverdem (Xin loi min oi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

For those who have read it, is there any mention of lawyers driving vaccine-makers out of business?


3 posted on 10/17/2004 12:34:07 PM PDT by Mamzelle (Fast Eddie and Big Betty--let them sue McDonald's and leave us alone)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
Tommy Thompson, of the Health and Human Services was just interviewed on Fox.  He said that people should not panic.  That America has enough vaccine for the elderly and the people under 25.  We should not panic.

Also, the Pharmaceutical in England is America owned.  Not owned by the Brits.  It's our own company that is based in England.

4 posted on 10/17/2004 12:35:05 PM PDT by SheLion (PLEASE vote! We can't afford to be silent!!!! Do we really want FnKerry to run our Country?!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mamzelle

No - the article explains the drivers as a commodity business that yields low profits, unpredictable demand that results in many leftover doses each year, and the cost of bringing manufacturing facilities into compliance with FDA mandates.


5 posted on 10/17/2004 12:36:39 PM PDT by NittanyLion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Mamzelle

For those who have read it, is there any mention of lawyers driving vaccine-makers out of business?

None.

6 posted on 10/17/2004 12:37:37 PM PDT by elli1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SheLion

Tell that to the places I go. I'm under 25 and nobody will sell me a vaccine.


7 posted on 10/17/2004 12:38:47 PM PDT by College Repub
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: College Repub

why do you need one? are you in a weakened health condition?


8 posted on 10/17/2004 12:39:40 PM PDT by oceanview
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Mamzelle
'Course not. Didn't you know it was all Bush's fault?
9 posted on 10/17/2004 12:40:11 PM PDT by LibWhacker (Got a flu shot shortage? You can thank Kerry's running mate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: College Repub
Tell that to the places I go. I'm under 25 and nobody will sell me a vaccine.

Well, they are probably wanting to give the flu shot to the elderly and the immune defective first.  Don't lose hope.  Watch for local health departments to announce their dates and also supermarkets will have flu shot clinics.

I know if my Doctor here doesn't get the vaccine, I can go to the Health Clinic in town on the 19th of November.  I hate waiting that long, but at least I have another option, in case my Doctor doesn't get the vaccine.

10 posted on 10/17/2004 12:41:42 PM PDT by SheLion (PLEASE vote! We can't afford to be silent!!!! Do we really want FnKerry to run our Country?!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Mamzelle

No, not mention.


11 posted on 10/17/2004 12:42:00 PM PDT by GoLightly (If it doesn't kill ya, it makes ya stronger.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Mamzelle
no!! for the root cause I might post an op-ed from the wsj online...the one Rush referred to last week
12 posted on 10/17/2004 12:42:05 PM PDT by tai-pan (media responsibility? ha!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
Here's a Newsmax article from December 2003:

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2003/12/13/140235.shtml

Hillary's Flu Vaccine Crisis

Newspapers are awash this week with headlines warning that the U.S. is running out of flu vaccine just as the crisis reaches near-epidemic levels, with 11 children dead so far.

Perhaps reporters ought to ask New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, since one of the few health care reforms she managed to inflict on the nation during her co-presidency has now backfired by driving most of America's flu vaccine producers out of business.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal this week, "The reason for today's shortage - as well as seven previous preventive vaccine shortages since 2000 - is that there are just five vaccine makers.

"This lack of suppliers is partly thanks to Hillary Clinton, who as first lady turned government into the majority buyer of vaccines and pushed prices so low as to make business unsustainable."

Last summer the Journal noted that the problem goes back to 1993, when Mrs. Clinton's "Vaccines for Children Program" was first implemented.

Hillary's vaccine crusade was being pushed by her Children's Defense Fund mentor Marian Wright Edelman - even though U.S. child vaccination rates at the time were considered relatively high by medical experts.

But that didn't stop Sen. Clinton and her "reformers." She pressured Congress to back the disastrous plan in a bid to make vaccines more available to poor, uninsured and underinsured children. In the process she turned the government into the major purchaser and distributor of vaccines.

Oops! Unfortunately for the familles of the 11 children killed by the disease so far, things didn't quite work out the way Hillary had planned.

As noted by the Kansas City Star this week, the decision to force vaccine makers to discount their price resulted in "declining financial incentives to develop and produce vaccines."

What's more, the vaccination rate "barely budged" after the Hillary-Edelman brainchild was implemented.

Hillary's "reform" did, however, manage to leave the nation thoroughly unprepared to handle the current flu crisis.

13 posted on 10/17/2004 12:42:08 PM PDT by FReepaholic (Proud FReeper since 1998. Proud monthly donor.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: College Repub

I'm a month away from 49 and I've never gotten a flu shot.


14 posted on 10/17/2004 12:42:15 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Thank you Rush Limbaugh-godfather of the New Media.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: NittanyLion

Just let three people die of diagnosed flu and
Kerry et al. will be scaring those already borderline
nervous into their graves!


16 posted on 10/17/2004 12:45:44 PM PDT by Grendel9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Grendel9

I don't believe the "flu" has started spreading yet - but that's OK, Kerry can substitute some people who die of pneumonia, and claim they died of the flu. The DNC is probably scanning hospital death records right now.


17 posted on 10/17/2004 12:47:41 PM PDT by oceanview
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Battle Axe
Then WHY is it in England?? Is it cleaner in England less likely to be contaminated? Are the English workers better?? Why can't they find a place in America where this could be made?

I suspect, through I'm not certain, that Chiron felt the regulatory environment there was more conducive to vaccine manufacturing. Another good possibility is the tax structure.

18 posted on 10/17/2004 12:48:10 PM PDT by NittanyLion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: neverdem
...But it turned out a lot fewer people wanted it....So, sometime the next spring Wyeth threw away 7 million unsold doses... They made 5 million doses of FluMist for last winter...Only 450,000 doses were sold...

The demand is not there.

I'm betting the MSM is pushing this "crisis" designed to scare the elderly and blame Bush.

19 posted on 10/17/2004 12:48:16 PM PDT by FReepaholic (Proud FReeper since 1998. Proud monthly donor.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Battle Axe

Chiron purchased an existing operation in England.


20 posted on 10/17/2004 12:48:23 PM PDT by xjcsa ("Everything matters if anything matters at all")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-74 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson