Q. My kids missed some shots this past year because of the shortages. Can they get their shots now?
A. Fortunately, most of the vaccine shortages of the past few years have been eliminated. As of June 2009, all vaccines are back in good supply, even Hib.
Some pediatricians may be seeing backorders of the pediatric Hepatitis B vaccine, but vaccine experts state that it is not enough of a problem to affect the vaccine supply of the hepatitis B vaccine.
Vaccine Shortages
In recent years, there have been vaccine shortages affecting:
- Hib (2007-09)
- Menactra (2006)
- Flu (2004)
- Prevnar (2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004)
- Varivax (2001, 2002)
- MMR (2001, 2002)
- Tetanus (2000, 2001)
- DTaP (2000, 2001)
Hib Vaccine Shortage
The Hib, or Haemophilus influenzae type B, vaccine had been in short supply since December 2007. This vaccine is usually given to infants when they are 2, 4 and 6 months old, with a booster dose at 12 to 15 months.
During the Hib shortage, it was recommended that the Hib booster dose be delayed until the shortage was over.
The CDC is now recommending that children start getting their booster dose of Hib again. Toddlers who missed their Hib booster can get it at their next visit to their pediatrician.
Vaccine Shortages and Delays
Many parents get confused and upset by the shortages of vaccines that are supposed to protect their children from common childhood infections. Since there has been a big push in recent years to promote getting kids fully vaccinated, many parents didn't understand why there weren't enough immunizations to go around.
Do the shortages put your child at risk? Probably not, thanks to the fact that parents and doctors have been aggressive in recent years in getting kids vaccinated. With few cases of these illnesses in the community, your child is less likely to get sick, even if he isn't fully vaccinated. If the shortages lasted longer, though, this protection would have declined and we may have started seeing outbreaks of some of the vaccine preventable infections.
We may start seeing more cases in children who are unvaccinated or who are undervaccinated, like the current Hib outbreaks in Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
Why were there shortages in the first place? According to the CDC, "Reasons for these shortages are multifactorial and include companies leaving the vaccine market, manufacturing or production problems and insufficient stockpiles." The push to remove thimerosal (mercury) from vaccines also may have contributed to the shortages in early 2000.
The tetanus shot (Td) was one of the vaccines that was in short supply for the longest time, since the year 2000. This caused many teens to miss their tetanus booster, which is usually given when they are 11 and 12 years old. Routine immunizations, however, quickly began a few years later, and teens who missed their Td booster should have been recalled by their doctor so that they can be brought up-to-date.
Other vaccines that had been in short supply include DTaP, HepB, Hib, Menactra, and Varivax (chickenpox). These vaccines are now back in good supply and routine immunizations can begin again.
Prevnar is no longer at "critically low levels" as it was in 2002. This means that all kids can now resume the regular immunization recommendations for Prevnar and catch up if they missed any doses.
What should you do if your child missed some shots because of the shortages? First, you should ask your doctor if they have a recall system or list that you can be added to so that they have an easy way to notify you when the shots are available. Otherwise, just stay on top of the vaccine shortage news, and schedule a visit when you read that the shots your child missed are available.
Or if your child was scheduled for vaccines during a time of vaccine shortages, be sure to ask your pediatrician if your child's vaccines are up-to-date during your next visit.
If you aren't sure if your child missed any shots, call your pediatrician during office hours to find out.
Sources:
CDC. MMWR. Updated Recommendations for Use of Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) Vaccine: Reinstatement of the Booster Dose at Ages 12--15 Months. June 26, 2009 / 58(24), 673-674.
CDC. Vaccines & Immunizations. Current Vaccine Shortages & Delays. Accessed June 2009.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages/default.htm
FDA. Biological Product Shortages. Accessed June 2009.
http://www.fda.gov/cber/shortage/shortage.htm
