Outbreaks worsening national shortage of hep A vaccine, says CDC

The U.S. is experiencing a shortage of the hepatitis A vaccine amid ongoing outbreaks of the disease nationwide, reports CNN.

Advertisement

An outbreak in Southeast Michigan has sickened 495 people and caused 19 deaths since August 2016. A separate outbreak in California, which started in November 2016, has sickened at least 644 people and caused 21 deaths. California health officials declared the outbreak a public health emergency in San Diego County Sept. 1 and have administered at least 68,500 hepatitis A vaccination doses to help curb the outbreak.

However, “current supply is not sufficient to support demand for vaccine,” the CDC told CNN in a written statement.

The agency has been working with public health officials to administer vaccinations to the most at-risk populations. CDC is also communicating with vaccine manufacturers “to monitor and manage public and private vaccine orders to make the best use of supplies … during this period of unexpected increased demand,” according to CNN.

More articles on supply chain:

Gartner names top 25 healthcare supply chains for 2017
4 ways the FDA is addressing the saline bag shortage
Acorda terminates Parkinson’s drug development after patient deaths

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

Beyond the bottleneck: How health systems are improving access, flow and care continuity

Thursday, July 30
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Imamu Tomlinson, MD, MBA, VituityWilliam Morice II, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic LaboratoriesJordan Dale, MD, Houston MethodistAsh Tengshe, City of HopeChris Klay, MHA, MA, PT, FACHE, Hospital Sisters Health System

Advertisement

Next Up in Supply Chain

Advertisement

Comments are closed.