For the last 20 year or so the legal and financial position of vaccine manufacturers has steadily declined. Now, outside observers are wondering why the nation is experiencing a major shortage of vaccines. Duh.
Vaccines have a number of strikes against them already. The research on them is expensive enough, but the manufacturing costs for vaccines are much higher and more complicated than for drug compounds.
Add to that the growing legal exposure of vaccine makers and the FDA’s high profile yanking of vaccines such as the rotavirus vaccination, and the more accurate question is why any companies bother to stay in the vaccine business.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in February that there were severe shortages for 8 of 11 key vaccines given to children, including those for chickenpox and the diphtheria/whooping cough vaccine.
The shortage of tetanus vaccines continues after Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories pulled out of the tetanus market in 2001, leaving a single company that produces tetanus shot.
The government convened a federal panel to look at how to increase vaccine production. A good first start would be to stop punishing the companies who manufacture the vaccines in the first place.
Source:
Panel seeks solution to vaccine shortage. Associated Press, February 12, 2002.