In Arizona, the Department of Health Services reported on December 11, 2002 that two adults and one child had died of influenza related sickness. Michael Murphy, the health department’s spokesperson, said that Arizona typically has 20 children deaths a year caused by influenza.[xii] Is one death an “epidemic”? This does not in any way minimize the tragedy of the death of a child. What needs to be put into context is how extraordinarily small these numbers are to lead to such media-driven hysteria. Furthermore, what were the underlying health conditions of those who died? At least one other report stated that one of the children in Colorado died of the flu and “other causes.” A 3-year-old boy who reportedly died from complications of the flu at Children's Medical Center in Dayton also had a missing pituitary gland and a cleft pallet.[xiii] Both conditions can be associated with a compromised immune system. Perhaps the CDC should recommend giving the flu shot only to children at highest risk-and their immediate family members-instead of encouraging mass vaccination of children with normal, intact immune systems. Do we know if the reports of “flu-related illness” and death were actually caused by an influenza virus? The CDC reports that the majority of influenza-like illnesses are not caused by the influenza virus, but by other viruses (e.g., rhinoviruses and respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]), adenoviruses, and parainfluenza viruses).[xiv] Douglas Benevento, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment stated the department's definition of "flu-related illness" includes kids who have flu symptoms but haven't had a confirmatory test.[xv] By early December, reports began to come out that stated the viral strain of this year’s flu “epidemic” was the A/Fujian strain. This was a serious error on the part of the vaccine program because the most virulent strain of the flu identified this season was not part of FluMist or Fluzone. In order to continue encouraging vaccination, the CDC proclaimed that the flu vaccines “should” confer “some” protection against this strain. The media continued to blare: get your flu vaccine. The CDC estimates that only 13 percent of healthy people less than 50 years of age, or about 17 million Americans, got flu shots last year.[xvi] Typically, 80 million doses of the flu shot are manufactured annually. Therefore, millions of unused doses of the flu vaccine from the previous year’s stock are discarded, along with the profits connected to them. With all this attention on the flu, Aventis certainly benefited. As the manufacturer of Fluzone (the “flu shot”), it is interesting to note that Aventis stock rose from $48/share at the beginning of September to $61.43 on December 12.[xvii] The extra, unanticipated Fluzone sales may not be the sole contributor to the stock increase, but certainly this can be considered as playing a role. Predictably, the demand for the flu vaccine soon outstripped supply. In an effort to assist health officials, effective December 10, 2003, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield was one of many insurance carriers that began covering the cost of FluMist vaccine through the end of December, or through the vaccination time period recommended by the CDC for the 2003-2004 flu season.[xviii] Now, even the government is getting on the band wagon to support consumer use of FluMist. Negotiated by the CDC, the agreement will allow state and local officials to purchase the nasal-spray vaccine for $20 a dose from now through the middle of February from both MedImmune and Wyeth. At less than half of the suggested wholesale price of $46 per dose, this may be the ultimate boost to faltering sales.[xix] The upshot of the run on flu shots, the newly implemented insurance coverage and the boost from the federal government has surely created a bonanza for MedImmune. The company probably hasn’t had to spend an additional marketing dime to implement the ideas of its newly hired consultants. Much of its marketing was accomplished for free…through the Six O’clock news. [i] MMWR. September 27, 2002/51(38);864, 875 [ii]ePediatric News. July 2003, Volume 37, Number 7. [iii] CDC. [iv]The Washington Post. MedImmune's Pain-Free Ambitions. March 18, 2002; Page E01 [v]October 15, 2003. [vi] PRNewswire November 17, 2003. [vii] Washington Post. November 25, 2003. “MedImmune Seeks Help in Relaunching FluMist.” [viii] Rocky Mountain News. December 11, 2003 “Cases of flu cut in half.” [ix] CDC News Conference Transcript. November 17, 2003. Update on Current Influenza Season. [x] CDC News Conference Transcript. December 11, 2003. Influenza Update. [xi] Rocky Mountain News. December 11, 2003 “Cases of flu cut in half.” [xii] The Navaho Times. December 11, 2002. “Flood of flu cases using up vaccine.” [xiii] December 15, 2003. “Toddler Dies Of Flu Complications” [xiv] MMWR November 9, 2001/50(44); 984-6 [xv] Rocky Mountain News. December 11, 2003 “Cases of flu cut in half.” [xvi] Washington Post. June 18, 2003, Pg. A01. “Spray Vaccine For Flu Wins FDA Clearance.” [xvii] Forbes Financial Report. [xviii] Blue Cross/Wellmark. [xix] The Washington Post. Tuesday, December 16, 2003; Page E01Government To Purchase FluMist at A Discount. Deal Could Give Boost To MedImmune Vaccine |
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