FDA denies knowing of Chiron suspension

[struggle4progress]

NEW YORK (CNN) - The acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner on Monday disputed a published report that said agency officials knew before Oct. 5 that British health authorities might suspend the operating license of Chiron's vaccine plant in Liverpool. <snip>

The Washington Post reported over the weekend that British health officials said their U.S. counterparts were told last month that problems at the vaccine plant in England could affect supplies to the United States.

The newspaper said records from Britain's Department of Health show that Chiron "warned officials of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency on Sept. 13 that potential contamination problems remained unresolved at the plant," the story said.

That account differs from those of U.S. health officials, who said the decision by Britain's health authorities to suspend production for three months because of contamination concerns at the plant surprised them. <snip>

http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/11/news/midcaps/chiron/

[Ivote]

1. Here We Go Again

If they didn't know about it, they should have.
This administration is the most inept and corrupt since 1776.

[Avalux]

2. They knew

believe me, they knew. Maybe they didn't really think Britian would yank Chiron's license, but they knew damn well there were contamination problems since last year. :grr:

[thecrow]

3. Ok I'm confused.

Should we or should we not get the flu shot this year?
What if we get it and then find out somebody fucked with it??
I cannot afford to get sick but if I'd get sicker if I got the shot, what then?
:wtf:

[Avalux]

4. My advice

Those who are immunocompromised, very young or very old should get the flu shot. I think with limited supply, those are the only groups receiving it. If you're in good health, don't worry about it.