[cogitator]

In 2003, they were throwing the stuff away because so much was left over (sorry, heard on radio dr. show, so no source)

That's true, in 2003 there was more supply than demand and 3-4 million doses were discarded -- but there was also nearly twice as much supply in 2003 compared to this year.

[hushpad]

but there was also nearly twice as much supply in 2003 compared to this year.<<<

That is my point. Last year, as in most years, the flu shot was OVER-SUPPLIED.

In 2004, we probably got exactly as much as we would have used without the "shortage". If all the vaccine would have been viable, we probably would have thrown out at least 1/2 of it again.