Amid COVID-19 crisis, flu shot makers see record US productionPharmaceutical companies plan to increase the US supply of flu vaccines by 11 percent this yearWASHINGTON - Global influenza vaccine makers have produced a record number of doses for the coming flu season, as authorities try to ease the burden on hospitals ahead of an expected COVID-19 resurgence. In the US, pharmaceutical companies plan to make around 196 million doses to serve the population of 330 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Major pharmacy chain CVS, which administers flu vaccines without prescription, is ordering 18 million doses, double the amount in 2019. GSK did not respond to a request for its vaccine production plans. Gostin recently wrote an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association calling for a flu vaccine offensive, including potentially mandatory vaccines at schools.

Source: Bangkok Post August 16, 2020 02:03 UTC