Gov. Blagojevich partners with Mayor Bloomberg to secure 200,000 doses of flu vaccine from Europe for New York City

Additional doses should provide the city with enough to vaccinate the most vulnerable residents         

[NOV. 11, 2004]  CHICAGO -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced Wednesday that Illinois is helping New York City secure an additional 200,000 doses of flu vaccine from Europe for New York City residents. This additional vaccine, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline in Germany and Aventis Pasteur in France, was ordered from a licensed British wholesaler through a partnership with Illinois. This additional vaccine will allow virtually every high-risk New York City resident who wants a flu shot to be vaccinated.

"The FDA told us that they are committed to working with us to evaluate the flu vaccine we've secured so people who need it most can get it as soon as possible," Gov. Blagojevich said. "If they approve our request, nursing home residents, senior citizens, young children in hospitals and people with suppressed immune systems can get the flu shots they need. And with Mayor Bloomberg on board, we have another powerful force to help make sure that the FDA does the right thing for the people of Illinois, New Mexico and New York City."

"We have been working tirelessly to get the flu vaccine that New York City needs to protect our most vulnerable from what can be a deadly illness," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Our health department has worked hard to get over a million doses of vaccine into the city, and now, with some additional entrepreneurship, we will have on hand the additional doses we need to save lives. I'd like to thank Illinois Governor Blagojevich for partnering with New York City and for his leadership in securing vaccine from abroad."

Last week Gov. Blagojevich helped the state of New Mexico find 150,000 doses of vaccine to meet its critical need. Altogether, Illinois has located nearly 650,000 doses of flu vaccine from Europe that can be shipped to the United States within hours of FDA approval.

Illinois officials met with the FDA on Oct. 29 to provide information about the labeling, movement and storage of the French-made Aventis Pasteur vaccine and about the state's plans for distributing the vaccine to its highest risk populations. Illinois' representatives also provided information about Ecosse, the licensed British wholesaler that has facilitated the vaccine purchases for all three states. The FDA has indicated that it is investigating the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine, is working with Aventis to verify the origins of the French vaccine and will expedite any necessary inspections or further evaluations.

The United States is facing a severe flu vaccine shortage as a result of problems found with doses produced by Chiron Corp., a manufacturer that was expected to produce nearly half of the 100 million doses needed for U.S. residents. Now the FDA is looking for alternative supplies to help supplement the 55 million doses of vaccine manufactured by its other supplier, Aventis Pasteur. The agency recently announced that it is investigating the safety of nearly 5 million doses of vaccine made by two different companies in Germany and Canada. Those doses could be ready later this winter.

[News release from the governor's office]