With last year's shortfall still on the minds of the "experts," it appears the supply of vaccines set aside to "cure" the flu and many childhood diseases has taken a sharp dive.

By the numbers:

• Embattled Chiron expects to produce no more than about 30 million flu vaccines this year, a big difference from a big fat zero last year due to poor manufacturing conditions at its Liverpool, England, facility -- although nobody really needs them -- but a steep drop from previous expectations.
• Although the feds like to have 41 million vaccines in reserve for childhood diseases, currently that stockpile amounts to less than a third of that.

Of course, you know what happens when there's a shortage of anything: Prices go up and vaccines are no exception. Sanofi-Aventis, the only flu-shot supplier with FDA approval (formerly called Aventis Pasteur), has raised list prices about 17 percent over last year. And, according to a Sanofi-Aventis spokesperson, demand is so strong the company has created a waiting list for doctors wanting to buy their vaccines.

After the last flu season came and went without a calamity (despite much verbal hand-wringing from the experts), caution is replacing grave concern over the shortfall of vaccines, particularly those given to children. In fact, a recent interview with Dr. Donald Miller discussed his user-friendly vaccination schedule for kids, a very popular two-part article I posted late last year.

Fact is, even though the experts don't want to admit it, autism has become an epidemic: One in every 68 American families has an autistic child. Besides, a growing number of people are starting to wake up to the fact that autism -- as a result of exposure to mercury from vaccines -- is incredibly more dangerous than the diseases they're supposed to protect us from!

Townhall.com April 30, 2005

USA Today April 28, 2005