Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Current Vaccine Shortages & Delays
Last Updated April 24, 2008
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This web page contains the latest national information about vaccine supplies and provides guidance to healthcare providers who are facing vaccine shortages or delays.
UPDATE: On March 26, CDC's Travelers' Health web section announced that yellow fever vaccine is now available in single-dose vials. For more details see the announcement. April 1, 2008
Chart of Vaccines* in Delay or Shortage
(Vaccines are listed in order used for the Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.)
| National Vaccine Supply Shortages | ||
|---|---|---|
Vaccine |
Shortage |
Temporary Change From Routine Recommendation |
| Hepatitis B | No | |
| Rotavirus | No | |
| Diphtheria, Tetanus, & Pertussis (DTaP and Tdap) | No | |
| Td | No | |
| Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) | See note 1 | Update from CDC: Hib vaccine shortage Flyer: What to do when giving the Hib vaccine during shortage See MMWR on the recall and interim recommendations Dec 19, 2007 See Q&A on Hib vaccine supply & recall and guidance for providers and patients |
| Pneumococcal Conjugated (PCV) | No | |
| Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (PPV) | No | |
| Inactivated Polio (IPV) | No | |
| Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) | No | |
| Influenza | No | Current information about influenza, see www.cdc.gov/flu |
| Varicella | See note 2 | No change in Routine Recommendation. See Update on Supply of Vaccines Containing Varicella-Zoster Virus for further information. |
| Hepatitis A | See note 3 | No change in Routine Recommendation.
|
| Conjugated Meningococcal (MCV4) | No | |
| Human Papillomavirus (HPV) | No | |
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(.DOC 61 KB)*Note: Only those vaccines included on the recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedule are included in this update.
Note1: Merck & Co., Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall in the United States for 10 lots of PedvaxHIB® (Haemophilus Influenzae type b Conjugate Vaccine) and two lots of COMVAX® (Haemophilus Influenzae type b Conjugate and Hepatitis B Vaccine). CDC has implemented interim recommendations for use of H. Influenzae type b Conjugate vaccines. CDC is working closely with the alternative manufacturer of Hib Vaccine (sanofi pasteur) to evaluate and ensure vaccine supply. Specific updates will be provided as soon as they are available. Merck is making every effort to restore its HIB-containing vaccines to full availability as soon as possible. At this time, it is estimated that these vaccines will be available again in fourth quarter 2008.
Note2: Production of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) bulk has been temporarily suspended due to low yields. VZV bulk is used to manufacture varicella vaccine, MMR-V vaccine, and zoster vaccine. Stocks of ProQuad® (MMR-V) have been depleted as of June 15, 2007. Current projections are for adequate supply to fully implement the recommended immunization schedule for varicella vaccine for all age groups and for the recommended use of zoster vaccine. Updates will be provided when available.
Note3: Merck & Co., Inc., are experiencing production delays for Pediatric and Adult hepatitis A vaccine (Pediatric & Adult VAQTA®). Merck has temporarily discontinued accepting orders for Pediatric VAQTA® and Adult VAQTA® in the vial formulation. Based on current information, it is estimated that VAQTA® will be available in early third quarter 2008 and Adult VAQTA® in fourth quarter 2008. GSK production and supply of their Pediatric and Adult hepatitis A vaccine (Pediatric & Adult Havrix®) and their Adult hepatitis A/hepatitis B combination vaccine (Twinrix®) are currently in good supply to meet demand. GSK has initiated plans to increase production of Havrix® and Twinrix®, to help ensure uninterrupted supply for the U.S. market. February 13
Why are there vaccine shortages?
In the United States shortages of many vaccines in the recommended childhood immunization schedule occurred in the past. Some of these shortages were widespread while others were localized. Reasons for these shortages were multi-factorial and included companies leaving the vaccine market, manufacturing or production problems, and insufficient stockpiles. Consequently, some shortages were only specific to one manufacturer.
Shortages of several of these vaccines necessitated temporary changes in recommendations for their use. During that period, summary information about the shortages including projected duration and recommendations for temporary changes in the childhood immunization schedule were provided.
Who can I contact to answer my questions?
-
Questions including those dealing with changes in child care and school requirements necessitated by vaccine supply problems when they occur can be answered by
State Health Department immunization programs at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/international/relres.html
General immunization questions can be answered by
The CDC Contact Center at 1-800-CDC-INFO
(1-800-232-4636) English and Español
How often will this information be updated?
This page on the NCIRD web site www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/shortages/ is updated as needed to provide public information on vaccine shortages and/or delays.
The FDA's web page on Biological Product Shortages www.fda.gov/cber/shortage/shortage.htm (exit) provides additional information regarding regulatory issues related to vaccine supply.
Acronyms and Abbreviations
AAFP - American Academy of Family Physicians
AAP - American Academy of Pediatrics
ACIP - Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
FDA - Food and Drug Administration
GAO - United States General Accounting Office
MMWR - Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
NCIRD - National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
TTY - teletypewriter
Other acronyms
Related Information
- Status of Licensure and Recommendations for New Vaccines (exit)
- ACIP Provisional Vaccine Recommendations
- Influenza Vaccination Recommendations
- Childhood & Adolescent Immunization Schedules
- Adult Immunization Schedule
- Archive: Vaccine shortages in the past
Information about vaccines shortages and delays in past years
Archived Shortages & Delays
- FAQs on 2002 Vaccine Shortages
- PCV7 (Prevnar®) Recommendation Suspension Q&A (3/1/2004)
- PCV7 (Prevnar®) Recommendation Reinstatement Q&A (7/8/2004)
- Pneumococcal Availability (2001, 2002)
- Pneumococcal & DTaP Revised Recommendations (2001)
- Updated Recommendations for PCV7 (3/1/2004)
- Vaccine Shortages in the Spotlight (2001-2005)
- Varicella Recommendations (2002)
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Content last reviewed on April 24, 2008
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases