Why There is A Shortage of H1N1 Flu Vaccine in the United States

In July this year, Obama administration officials said companies could make 80 million to 120 million doses of H1N1 vaccines by mid-October. They outlined an aggressive response to the pandemic, spending more than 2 billion dollar to buy 250 million doses of vaccines and promising enough to inoculate every American. But according to the latest statistics from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, there are 22 million doses of vaccines that are available. Why there is such a shortage of vaccines? Marita Mike, Health Director at the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, blames it to the antiquated method manufactures use to grow the vaccine.

"In part the reason is that the technology we're using to develop vaccines, basically egg-based technology is an old techonology. It's a technology that has been tried true and tested, and it is slow. "

The severe shortage of vaccines has led to a shift in the country's H1N1 vaccination policy, from vaccinating every citizen to inoculating people who are most vulnerable.

The declaring of the National Emergency of H1N1 flu in the US and the shortage of vaccines have resulted in people standing in long queues at hospitals and clinics hoping to get vaccinated, but those considered by doctors as unqualified as target group would be persuaded to go home.

Bill Borwegen, director of the Occupational Health and Safety, an association of medical workers in the US, says this has put much pressure on hospitals and clinics.

"There is enough blame to go around. I'm not sure how much it's the Obama administration's fault. The bottom line is we're dealing with science and science is sometimes unpredictable. We're knowing that the virus is growing much slower in the eggs than we thought. So it's taking longer to vaccinate people."

Among those who are eligible to take the vaccine now, there are also complaints. Jennifer Vivido is a mother of a 2-year-old waiting at a clinic in the state of Virginia to get her daughter vaccinated, at the repeated request of her family doctor.

She says she has been trying for days but the queue was too long and hopes she could get it this time.

"My number is 29, so maybe I'll be lucky enough to get it today."

Medical experts assure people that the vaccines are developed using the technology that has been tested for decades and its safety has been proven. A recent CBS poll reveals that while about 35 percent of the U.S. Population normally receives a seasonal flu shot, about 50 percent of Americans want to get the H1N1 flu vaccine.

Questions are being raised in the US about the government's response. Some analysts say the president and his administration would be judged on how well he handled his first major domestic emergency.

SS, CRI news, Washington.