ATTORNEY GENERAL INVESTIGATES FLU VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PRACTICES
           Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is investigating why Visiting Nurse Associations in Connecticut may receive a disproportionately lower supply of seasonal flu vaccine than others who contracted with a major vaccine supplier.
           In a letter to Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Inc., Blumenthal said he understands that Novartis and other flu vaccine suppliers are experiencing serious production strains, and that some deliveries may be delayed.
           Blumenthal said the Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) has apparently been notified that its supply will be about 75 percent lower than promised under its contract, even though Novartis has claimed production is down only 10 percent.
           Blumenthal said, “The delivery disparity raises the specter of discriminatory distribution — serious questions about whether Novartis may be purposefully filling other flu vaccine contracts at higher levels. My office has requested key details about Novartis distribution practices.
           “This dangerous disparity threatens to deprive thousands of Connecticut citizens of fair flu vaccine protection — including senior citizens who are most vulnerable to fatal complications. My office has launched a prompt investigation as we enter a potentially dangerous flu season.
           “We must proactively protect against any unfair and unsafe flu vaccine distribution practices. Facing vaccine production difficulties, we must ensure that our most vulnerable citizens — senior citizens and young children — have fair access to vaccines.
           “VNAs now forced to cancel flu shot clinics may lack even enough vaccine for their own health care workers. In Connecticut, as elsewhere, VNAs are the primary provider of vaccines to the elderly homebound population, among the most vulnerable to severe illness and morbidity from the flu. VNAs are also a main provider of flu vaccines to emergency medical responders and health care workers in the state.â€
           The VNAA contracted with Novartis on behalf of VNAs in Connecticut and 20 other states for seasonal flu vaccines that the local VNAs provide to the public. The contract required the provision of 350,000 doses of the vaccine, to be delivered to each of the VNAs by Sept. 30.
           According to information provided by the Connecticut VNAs, Novartis recently notified VNAA that it will deliver only 100,000 vaccines – only 28 percent of the contracted doses.
           Connecticut’s VNAs now expect to receive some 41,000 fewer vaccine doses than anticipated, forcing them to cancel flu shot clinics and jeopardizing their ability to vaccinate their own health care workers.
           Blumenthal has requested the following information from Novartis:
• How is the available production of seasonal flu vaccine being distributed among purchasers by Novartis and what is the rationale for the distribution decisions?
• What are the reasons that the supply of vaccine to the VNAA is being reduced by 72 percent when Novartis’ production is only 10 percent below the amount needed to meet all supply contracts?
• Has the VNAA’s supply of vaccine been reduced by a greater percentage than other Novartis customers and, if so, why?
• What steps is Novartis taking to promptly restore in a timely fashion the missing supply of vaccine to the VNAA?
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It is strange that VNA’s can’t receive the flu vaccine. CVS stores with MinuteClinics offer the shot every day, 7 days a week for $30.My wife and I got our shots yesterday in the Cheshire CVS, No lines,no wait longer than 5-6 minutes.
Bob, you bring up a good point. The VNAs serve mainly the homebound frail elders who can’t leave their homes to go to the CVS and Walgreens to get their vaccines. And overall Novartis has seen a 10% reduction of their vaccine supply this year but Novartis reduced VNAA members’ supply by 75% which we believe to be unfair. Why not reduce all their clients equally and reduce all orders by 10% – why did they choose to reduce VNAA members orders by 75%. Our members ordered vaccine the same time as everyone else in the spring and were only told a few weeks ago that they would only be receiving 100,000 of the 350,000 that were ordered.
I would NEVER ever even consider getting a flu shot with untested, dangerous vaccines. Are you aware of the controversy over possible mandatory flu shots of Untested, possibly critical overload to human immune systems from this Shot and the inhaled vaccine?
Here is some of the information I heard about: According to Dr. Laibow, the amount of squalene present in the swine flu vaccine is over 1,000,000 times that of Vaccine A. If you receive this vaccine she states the consequences could be: swollen and immobile joints, plummeting energy level, headaches, unsoothable rashes , fevers, weakness, gastrointestinal problems (vomit, diarrhea, cramps), memory loss, loss of intelligence, and dementia. In short, swine flu vaccine will cause an invasion of the body by its own immune system.
The vaccine talked about above in this article is the seasonal flu vaccine and it has been tested and is safe for the general public to receive.
I work for a PCP and we were under contract for 200 doses since last year to be delivered this september. They comapny is now telling us they will NOT BE ABLE TO SHIP ANY OF OUR “CONTRACTED” VACCINES. My theory : the pharmacies, etc which are already distributing the vaccines have bought majority of doeses being produced; and since they DO NOT submit to insurance companies for payment; and you ,must pay cash for your vaccine; they are making a HUGE profit,…at OUR cost
Bob Koeppel hit the nail on the head. The Flu shot companies cannot fill their orders because they sent the bulk of their shots to CVS, Walgreens, Kroger stores, HEB Stores, Randalls Stores, etc, etc. If you are not a giant chain with deep pockets, you are not getting your full order or you are expected to wait to do your clinics after November or whenever they decide to give you shots you will not be able to sell. This is the game they play every year. They say there will be no problem with the shots, then they stock the big companies, then the doctors and smaller providors wait until the big boys sell all of theirs at $25 and $30. Only then do they get their supply. Companies like the one I work for in Texas get stuck with shots at the end of every season. I personally have a collection of unused expired shots from the last seven seasons on a shelf. It is time for congress to enact a law for the equitable distribution of vaccines so these crooks will have to treat all of us fairly. Unfortunately for us, after ten years of this game we will soon be out of business. We are expected to wait until November to get any vaccine.