"Blagojevich said state officials had negotiated a tentative deal to
buy the Aventis flu vaccine for $7 a dose, well below the normal U.S.
price. He also said officials had located tens of thousands more doses
that could be in Illinois within days if approved."

This price is about what "we" paid here", so not a rip-off.

Anyway, we French are glad to help any 3rd world country.
(that was a goose for PJ)

Earl

*****


Illinois Seeks to Buy European Flu Shots


CHICAGO - Citing "an urgent need" at a time of flu vaccine shortages,
Illinois asked for federal permission Monday to buy at least 62,000
vaccine doses from Europe for the state's nursing home residents.


A letter outlining the proposal was sent to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration ( news -web sites ), which Gov. Rod Blagojevich has
been battling over his push to import lower-priced prescription drugs
from Canada.

"I have every reason to think the FDA ( news -web sites ) will work
with us on this," Blagojevich said Monday.

The acting FDA commissioner, Dr. Lester M. Crawford, said the agency
would evaluate the state's request "expeditiously."

The U.S. supply of flu vaccine was slashed nearly in half when British
manufacturer Chiron Corp. was barred from shipping any of its
production because of contamination in its plant at Liverpool,
England.

Blagojevich wants the FDA to inspect a manufacturing facility in
France that makes the Aventis Pasteur flu vaccine for distribution in
Canada and Europe. The FDA would have to test the vaccine before it
could be approved, officials said. Aventis is the country's other
major supplier.

"With regard to any new sources identified, we would make sure the
vaccine is safe and effective and add it to the amounts we are
negotiating for from other countries," Crawford said.

The FDA did not immediately comment further or indicate how soon it
might make a decision on the Illinois request.

Illinois health officials have not clinically tested the Aventis
Pasteur vaccine on U.S. flu patients, but they reviewed the literature
and determined its properties are identical to those of the vaccine
used in the United States, said Assistant Illinois Health Department
Director Jonathan Dopkeen.

The FDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ( news
-web sites ) have been working with pharmaceutical companies in other
countries to try to find more flu vaccines, said Dr. Bruce Gellin,
director of the government's National Vaccine Program.

The vaccine Blagojevich wants to buy would have to be examined closely
because it would come from a British wholesaler instead of the drug
company and it might not be effective, Gellin said.

"You've got an added risk when you're dealing with wholesalers,"
Gellin said. For one thing, he said, vaccines must be stored properly
to ensure their effectiveness.

Blagojevich said state officials had negotiated a tentative deal to
buy the Aventis flu vaccine for $7 a dose, well below the normal U.S.
price. He also said officials had located tens of thousands more doses
that could be in Illinois within days if approved.

State officials said the vaccines would supplement the 35,000 doses
the state is receiving from the federal government for Medicaid
patients and would go first to nursing homes across Illinois and to
children in hospitals.

Each year, 200,000 Americans are hospitalized with the flu and 36,000
die.

Last year, Illinois requested federal approval to set up a pilot
program for the state to import drugs from Canada for state employees
and retirees, but the FDA refused to approve the plan, arguing it
cannot vouch for the safety of imported drugs.

Blagojevich then created the I-SaveRx program, which helps Illinois
residents buy lower-priced prescription drugs from pharmacies in
Britain and Canada. It was through that program, which prompted
complaints from the FDA, that the state developed a relationship with
the vaccine wholesalers, said the governor's spokeswoman, Abby
Ottenhoff.


Ottenhoff would not say whether the Blagojevich administration would
proceed with its flu vaccine plan if the FDA did not approve it.

Also Monday, New Jersey lawmakers approved a measure that would allow
fines for medical personnel who give vaccinations to people not
considered at high risk for complications from the flu. A spokesman
for Gov. James E. McGreevey said he was reviewing the bill.

Under the measure, doctors, pharmacists and other medical
professionals could be fined $500 for giving a vaccination to people
not at risk, and repeat offenders would be reported to their employer
or licensing board.

On 26 Oct 2004 10:37:18 -0700, [email protected] (Earl) wrote:

    >Anyway, we French are glad to help any 3rd world country.
    >(that was a goose for PJ)

More like another one of your turkeys, Earl. I thought Donna had
taken your computer away from you.

Gordon