Current Vaccine Shortages (Exit Site)
This web page provides the latest national information about vaccine supply, shortages, and delays.

Communications from Manufacturers about Supply

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (PedivaxHIB®) Vaccine Shortage
  The AAP and CDC are advising pediatricians to continue to defer the booster dose of Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine for healthy children at the 12- through 15-month well-child visit until at least mid-2009. These interim recommendations remain in effect until the Hib vaccine supply is adequate to provide all children with all doses of the vaccine. The Academy and CDC are monitoring Hib vaccine supply and will make additional recommendations if the need arises.

  In December 2007, Merck temporarily suspended manufacturing of its Hib-containing vaccines during a change in manufacturing processes and voluntarily recalled certain lots of PedvaxHIB (monovalent Hib vaccine) and Comvax (Hib-HepB) ( MMWR 2007;56(Dispatch):1-2 [Medline] ).

  Health care clinicians should register and track children in whom the booster dose is deferred to facilitate recalling them for vaccination when supply improves, according to the interim recommendations.

  The supply of ActHIB and Pentacel is adequate to cover the three-dose primary series through mid-2009, according to sanofi pasteur, the other manufacturer of Hib-containing vaccines. CDC is continuing to work with sanofi pasteur to review its Hib vaccine supply and capacity to serve the U.S. market during the next six to eight months.

  Updates on vaccine availability will be provided as more information becomes available. Information on current vaccine supply issues may be found on the CDC Web site. (2/20/09)

• Hepatitis A Vaccine Supply
  As of December 1, 2008, Merck's Pediatric/Adolescent formulation of hepatitis A vaccine, VAQTA®, is available for ordering. Merck estimates that the Adult formulation of VAQTA® will be available in second quarter 2009. GSK production and supply of their Pediatric and Adult hepatitis A vaccine (Pediatric & Adult Havrix®) and their Adult hepatitis A/hepatitis B combination vaccine (Twinrix®) are in adequate supply to meet demand. (2/20/09)

• ProQuad (Merck): There is adequate supply of Varivax® (varicella vaccine) to fully implement the recommended 2-dose immunization schedule for all age groups, including catch-up.  ProQuad® (MMRV) will not be available in 2009.

Status of Licensure and Recommendations for New Vaccines - New from AAP Red Book Online™ (Exit Site)
This table provides up-to-date information on the status of recommendations for new vaccines and is freely accessible to all visitors by clicking the link above.

Understanding Vaccine Research & Development, Licensure, and the Recommendation Process (Exit Site)
Dr Margaret Rennels, Dr John Bradley, and Dr Larry Pickering, describe the comprehensive process of adding new vaccine recommendations to the immunization schedule. Reprint permission for this article courtesy of AAP News.

Manufacturers and Distributors Phone Numbers
Link to vaccine manufacturers and distributors telephone numbers.

Resources:

• GAO Report On Childhood Vaccines: Ensuring an Adequate Supply Poses Continuing Challenges (Exit Site)
  The report addresses three questions asked by the United States Congress: 1. To what extent have recent childhood vaccine shortages affected immunization policies and programs; 2. What factors have contributed to the recent shortages, and have they been resolved; and 3. What strategies are federal agencies considering to help mitigate disruptions in the vaccine supply?
• Article: Poland GA, Marcuse EK. Vaccine availability in the US: problems and solutions. Nature Immunology. 2004;5:1195-1198
  The shortage in US influenza vaccine supply has finally focused public attention on recurrent problems faced by public health officials in ensuring the availability of many vaccines.
• Slideset: Meeting the Challenges of Pandemic Vaccine Preparedness: FDA Perspectives
  Presented by Jesse L. Goodman, MD, MPH, Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, at the IOM Symposium on Pandemic Influenza Research on April 5, 2005. This presentation provides an overview of changes in the vaccine industry and ideas about how to meet the challenges ahead.