Chiron given OK to produce flu vaccine

AP ^ | 3/2/5 | Judy Silber

[SmithL]

British regulators have lifted the license suspension of Chiron's Liverpool, England, manufacturing facility, allowing the company to immediately begin flu vaccine production and ending much of the uncertainty about the 2005-06 influenza season.

The decision by the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency means that the United States will likely avoid a repeat of the flu vaccine shortage that occurred last year. First announced in October, the suspension immediately cut the U.S. supply in half, leaving public health officials scrambling to find more vaccine, just before the start of the 2004 flu season.

Investors immediately welcomed the news, sending Chiron shares up by almost 10 percent in trading after the announcement.

[SmithL]

Alright, I'm getting in line for next year's shot. I don't ever want another flu like the one I'm still trying to shake.

[Calusa]

Two years ago there was no election and plenty of vaccine, but no one wanted to take it. Mercury, autism, yatta, yatta, yatta. Last year there was no vaccine so everybody wanted it so badly they rioted, mostly to make it an election issue against Bush. My prediction is next October there will be about 200 million doses available, but no one will want to be innoculated because of the great health risks associated. I hope Chiron doesn't go out of business.