The Breakdown of H1N1 Vaccination: Big Swiss Drugmaker's Delays Deals Another Blow

October 26, 2009 (LPAC)—From 120 million doses of H1N1 "swine flu" vaccine in October—forecast by Obama Administration officials in the Spring; to 40-50 million doses by Oct. 15—promised in September; to 16 million doses actually distributed as of Oct. 20—in a United States of 310 million people; this is a pandemic vaccination mobilization that works about as well as the Obama "stimulus" in stopping the growth of mass unemployment.

On Oct. 24 the big Swiss drugmaker Novartis dealt another blow: It will be able to deliver almost no injectable H1N1 vaccine to the United States until January/February 2010. Novartis, the largest supplier, was contracted for 85 million of the full original plan of 250 million doses. This promises that the current flu-shot chaos and shortages will continue through the rest of 2009, and swine flu may already be hitting its peak. It has killed over 1,000 Americans (some 300 this month) and hospitalized 20,000.

Novartis CEO Daniel Vasella, while reporting the company made record profits in third quarter and that he "feels compassion for those who are waiting," claimed that the antigen yield from the CDC strain was one-fifth of normal; although other makers have said it is one-half of normal.

The Obama Administration should never have entrusted five private pharmaceutical giants to supply the country's need for vaccine, making no attempt to mobilize national U.S. laboratory capabilities.

This week vaccine ran out fast in Obama's home town; the Chicago Tribune reported Chicago has received 150,000 doses for a metro area of 3 million, and has limited distribution to six city clinics, three days a week. There, the vaccine is gone by 11:00 am, so that people with medical conditions, parents with children, etc. have to spend repeated days on the lines. Virginia's big Fairfax County planned 10 swine flu vaccination locations, but could open only one. Most states and cities have about one-tenth of the vaccine they need.

A further problem: Those immunized against the seasonal flu, can't get an anti-H1N1 Flu-Mist dose for 30 days (it results in immunity not developing). They could immediately follow the seasonal vaccination with injectable H1N1 vaccine shot, but Flu-Mist is most of what is available, where anything is.

Obama has now declared a national emergency. Its main effect is to allow hospitals "in danger of being overwhelmed" to turn away people with flu and send them offsite to tents or other makeshift "emergency rooms" and triage centers. It does not mobilize additional hospital rooms, intensive care facilities like ventilators—nor, of course, change the vaccine shortage.