U.S. has 71 million unused flu vaccine doses

Hall said the department would respond to Grassley.

“There are approximately 71 million doses, held by states, the distributor or the manufacturers, that remain unused, and have varying expiration dates, some as long as early 2011,” Hall said by e-mail.

“We have asked states to hold on to any vaccine that has not expired, in case we continue to have regional upticks in disease, another wave, or another early start to the flu season. We are holding onto that vaccine (and advising states and vaccinators to hold onto theirs) until there is sufficient seasonal vaccine (which includes coverage for the 2009 H1N1 virus) to replace it.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that H1N1 has killed at least 12,000 Americans and put more than 265,000 in hospital. People with chronic diseases such as asthma or diabetes, pregnant women and children were at highest risk.

Grassley also asked Sebelius whether HHS would try to increase distribution of seasonal flu vaccines.

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By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

WASHINGTON (Reuters)