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American Morning
Illegal Vaccines Have Sprung up Wake of Shortages
Aired December 26, 2003 - 07:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's take a look at the latest in the fight against the flu outbreak and also the possibility that it is spawning some new kinds of fraud. The nationwide demand for flu shots and a dwindling supply of the vaccine have health officials concerned about illegal flu shipments that are circulating in the U.S. -- Sanjay, since you are our doctor on the set this morning, give us a sense of really how big this problem is.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, you know, probably not a big concern now for most people out there who have gotten their flu shot who are still thinking about getting one, if you can. Most people remember now that flu season hit pretty early this year and it's hit very hard, as well. Lots of long lines. People remembering now to get their flu shot, especially after they're hearing about how serious the flu has been this year.
Concern now, and I guess it's not a surprise, concern now that there are some distributors who are fraudulent in terms of their distribution of the flu vaccine. A couple of reports, one coming out of Florida, one coming out of Washington. Let me just tell you about them.
First, with the one out of Florida, the FDA and Florida health officials stopped an attempt basically to import flu vaccine that was not approved for sale in this country. What happened was the health department alerted the FDA after an unlicensed company offered to sell the State of Florida about a half a million unregulated doses.
Also in the State of Washington it was found that there were vials of flu vaccine that had not been approved, as well. And they were also being administered by counselors, counselors, not M.D.s, not pharmacists, but counselors at the particular facility. People, these people were not licensed to actually give that flu vaccine.
So there is concern about the actual unlicensed vaccines circulating, although it has not really hit the market, so no concern for people out there who have already gotten their flu vaccine.
Things to keep in mind for you at home, if you do get the flu shot, get it from a doctor, one of your health care clinics or a pharmacist. There are three kinds of approved flu vaccines out there. Two of them are shots, one is a mist -- FluZone, FluViron and then the FluMist, which is the nasal spray. Those are the ones you should stick to if you can get one.
Try and stay safe out there -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Sanjay, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 26, 2003 - 07:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's take a look at the latest in the fight against the flu outbreak and also the possibility that it is spawning some new kinds of fraud. The nationwide demand for flu shots and a dwindling supply of the vaccine have health officials concerned about illegal flu shipments that are circulating in the U.S. -- Sanjay, since you are our doctor on the set this morning, give us a sense of really how big this problem is.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, you know, probably not a big concern now for most people out there who have gotten their flu shot who are still thinking about getting one, if you can. Most people remember now that flu season hit pretty early this year and it's hit very hard, as well. Lots of long lines. People remembering now to get their flu shot, especially after they're hearing about how serious the flu has been this year.
Concern now, and I guess it's not a surprise, concern now that there are some distributors who are fraudulent in terms of their distribution of the flu vaccine. A couple of reports, one coming out of Florida, one coming out of Washington. Let me just tell you about them.
First, with the one out of Florida, the FDA and Florida health officials stopped an attempt basically to import flu vaccine that was not approved for sale in this country. What happened was the health department alerted the FDA after an unlicensed company offered to sell the State of Florida about a half a million unregulated doses.
Also in the State of Washington it was found that there were vials of flu vaccine that had not been approved, as well. And they were also being administered by counselors, counselors, not M.D.s, not pharmacists, but counselors at the particular facility. People, these people were not licensed to actually give that flu vaccine.
So there is concern about the actual unlicensed vaccines circulating, although it has not really hit the market, so no concern for people out there who have already gotten their flu vaccine.
Things to keep in mind for you at home, if you do get the flu shot, get it from a doctor, one of your health care clinics or a pharmacist. There are three kinds of approved flu vaccines out there. Two of them are shots, one is a mist -- FluZone, FluViron and then the FluMist, which is the nasal spray. Those are the ones you should stick to if you can get one.
Try and stay safe out there -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Sanjay, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
