The Centers for Disease Control have posted a section on
their site about the 2004-05 flu vaccine shortage. The site includes information for US residents as
well as health professionals.

Site sections include Resources on Vaccine Supply, Influenza Vaccine
Bulletins, Priority Groups for Influenza Vaccination, Preventing the
Flu, and a Q&A. Also available is a weekly report featuring current
US statistics, map, and influenza surveillance. The site also
includes Patient and Provider Education Materials, and a video.

On October 5, 2004, CDC was notified by Chiron Corporation that none
of its influenza vaccine (Fluvirin®) would be available for
distribution in the United States for the 2004–05 influenza season.
The company indicated that the Medicines and Healthcare Products
Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom, where Chiron’s
Fluvirin vaccine is produced, has suspended the company’s license to
manufacture Fluvirin vaccine in its Liverpool facility for 3 months,
preventing any release of this vaccine for this influenza season. This
action will reduce by approximately one half the expected supply of
trivalent inactivated vaccine (flu shot) available in the United
States for the 2004–05 influenza season.

The remaining supply of influenza vaccine expected to be available in
the United States this season is nearly 54 million doses of Fluzone®
(inactivated flu shot) manufactured by Aventis Pasteur, Inc. Of these
doses, approximately 30 million doses already have been distributed by
the manufacturer. In addition, approximately 1.1 million doses of live
attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV/FluMist ®) manufactured by
MedImmune will be available this season.

Because of this urgent situation, CDC, in coordination with its
Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), is issuing
interim recommendations for influenza vaccination during the 2004–05
season. These interim recommendations were formally recommended by
ACIP on October 5, 2004, and take precedence over earlier
recommendations.