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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 While vaccine shortages persist, there are 26.6 million doses now in circulation, up from 16.1 million doses last week. The supply is "increasing steadily," said Frieden. "The gap between supply and demand is closing."
Production delays have resulted in far fewer doses of the vaccine being available than federal officials had hoped for by this time. The first estimates called for 40 million doses by the end of October and 190 million doses by year's end.
Since the genetics of the virus have not changed, the vaccine is a good match, Frieden said.
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Frieden also said there is a stronger than usual demand for the seasonal flu vaccine, prompting some shortages. "Of the 89 million doses that have already been distributed, the overwhelming majority have already been given," he said. But more doses will be available in November and December.
Supplies of the antiviral drug Tamiflu should be plentiful, but there have been shortages of the liquid form given to children, Frieden said. To help overcome that shortage, the federal government is releasing the 234,000 remaining doses of liquid Tamiflu that have been stockpiled, he said.
More information
For more on the H1N1 swine flu, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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