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| Credit FluWatch - Regions Reporting Week 38 |
#14,444
Although I had absolutely no problem getting my annual flu shot last week here in Florida - and I've seen no reports (so far) of serious shortages in the U.S. - in places like Taiwan, the UK, and Canada there are persistent reports of delayed deliveries and potential shortages this winter.
Last February the World Health Organization delayed their decision on which H3N2 vaccine component to add to this fall's seasonal flu shot by 30 days due to late season reports of the rapid rise and spread of an H3N2 clade 3C.3a virus in the United States and other parts of the globe.
When they finally made their selection in late March, the WHO warned that it might cause a delay in shipping vaccines in the fall.In May it was announced that the supply of FluMist Quadrivalent - a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) - would be severely limited this fall (see AAP News report Nasal spray flu vaccine supply will be limited next season).
In early June Taiwan announced that their fall flu vaccine campaign - which normally begins on October 1st - would be delayed until mid-to-late November, and that initial supplies would be limited (see Taiwan Warns Of Delays In This Fall's Flu Vaccine).
In July Sanofi Pasteur announced (see AAP news report) that deliveries of this fall's vaccine would likely be delayed in the U.S. as well, stating:
“Sanofi Pasteur fully expects to manufacture and deliver every dose reserved by our customers, beginning with partial shipments to all customers in late-August or September, with all shipments completed by the end of November."Also in July, the UK's NHS issued a letter to GPs and Community Pharmacists regarding the expected delayed arrival of the quadrivalent vaccine this fall.
Yesterday a CTVNews report (see Canada won't offer flu vaccine nasal spray due to global shortage) quoted from an email sent by Public Health Canada spokesperson Anna Maddison, which explained the policy change “. . . because of production challenges this year, there is a significantly lower amount of FluMist Quadrivalent supply available globally.”
Overnight, a second report, from CBC News (Manitoba) further warned: Vaccine delays, shortages possible across Canada as flu season approaches.A visit to the province of Manitoba government website this morning finds the following notices have been posted over the past 7 days.
October 2,2019(Continue . . . )
RE: Reduction of Influenza Vaccine Orders
All manufacturers supplying Canada with influenza vaccine are experiencing shortages or delays in the delivery of their vaccines for various reasons. This will result in delays of vaccine delivery to Manitoba and may also impact the volume of influenza vaccines that were anticipated in Manitoba. All provinces and territories are impacted by this situation, and it is beyond the control of the provinces and territories, including Manitoba.
As a result, all health care provider orders are being reduced, in order to ensure that as many health care provider locations as possible receive vaccine as quickly as possible. Additional health care provider orders will depend on vaccine availability.
Product substitutions will occur depending on the products that are available.
Due to uncertainty around the volume of doses that will be received by Manitoba and the date when these doses will arrive in Manitoba, the shipping schedule is not known at this time. Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living will update the distribution timelines online at www.Manitoba.ca/fludistribution when more information becomes available. Thank-you for your co-operation in this matter
September 26, 2019
Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living (MHSAL) was notified by Health Canada that a portion of influenza vaccine doses destined for Canada has not yet been approved for distribution. As a result, a new national allocation plan has been developed.
**MHSAL will receive approximately 65% of the entire Flu zone High-Dose order by Sep 30th, 10% by October 15th and the remaining 25% in November. As such, delivery to Long Term Care facilities will be staggered and will be completed according to the sequence that orders were received.
RE: High Dose Influenza (Fluzone® HD) supply update
Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living (MHSAL) was notified early this week that Sanofi Pasteur, the manufacturer of High Dose Influenza Vaccine (Fluzone® HD), was experiencing delays in the delivery of Fluzone® HD to Canadian jurisdictions. Although the majority of the Fluzone® HD doses ordered by Manitoba will be received on time, based on the most current data approximately 25% of doses will be delayed, arriving in Manitoba in late November. Each location that orders Fluzone® HD based on the current eligibility criteria will receive 75-80% of their initial Fluzone® HD order on schedule and this should be administered to residents/patients as soon as possible.
Facilities requiring additional doses are asked to place a second order after October 15th.
Thank-you for your co-operation in this matter. If you have any further questions please email MHSAL at Vaccines@gov.mb.ca. Updates pertaining to flu vaccine distribution/supply, including shortages and delays will be posted on this page.
Fortunately, flu season has yet to take off this fall in the U.S. and Canada, and so the demand for flu vaccines remains limited. That will change shortly, however, as the CDC recommends that people get their flu vaccine by the end of October if at all possible.
Despite concerns that this year's H3N2 and B/Victoria vaccine strains may not be a good match for this winter's viruses (see WHO Announces 2 Strain Changes For 2020 Southern Hemisphere Flu Vaccine), both the H1N1 and B/Yamagata strains look on point.In truth, we won't know which strains will dominate this winter until the season ends next spring, but studies suggest even a less-than-perfect strain match can still provide some protection (see (see CID Journal: Flu Vaccine Reduces Severe Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients).
All of which makes getting the shot a good good investment in your health.Given the potential for flu vaccine shortages later in the season, I'm glad I got mine last week. I'm even happier that - for the first time - I was able to get the new cell-based flu vaccine.
But cell-based or egg-based - given persistent reports of potential shortages - you might want to get your shot sooner rather than later.
