Only News Photos Video/Audio FLU VACCINE MAKERS TO SET NEW DOSES RECORD FOR NEXT SEASON By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer _ 19 minutes ago_ ATLANTA - Flu vaccine manufacturers expect to make a record number of doses for next flu season despite concerns that demand may drop because this year's vaccine was largely ineffective.The fivepanies that make flu vaccine for the U.Market plan to make at least 143 million doses for the 2008-2009 season.Made 140 million doses for the current season the worst in four years for adult deaths from flu and pneumonia.Part of the problem was the vaccine didn't work well against the viruses that ended up circulating.Year, health officials essentially make an educated guess and formulate a vaccine against three viruses.Guess usually works well.But two of the three strains for the current season were not good matches, and the vaccine was only 44 percent effective overall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Reports on that data "probably doesn't help us going into the flu season, when people are thinking 'It didn't really match so how can we rely that this vaccine's OK?Paul Perreault, executive vice president of CSL Biotherapies, one of the five manufacturers.Still, thepany is tripling its production to 6 million doses, from 2 million.This fall's vaccination drive should be successful, due in part to education campaigns and aplete makeover of the vaccine, Perreault said.Besides CSL Biotherapies, threepanies make flu shots for the United States.Pasteur Inc.Planning to make 50 million doses for theing flu season; Novartis Vaccines, 40 million; GlaxoSmithKline PLC, 35 million to 38 million.In addition, MedImmune Vaccines Inc.To make about 12 million doses of FluMist.A nasal mist containing live virus approved for healthy people between ages 2 and 49.Manufacturers said this week they anticipate delivering much of their vaccines by the end of September.Federal health officials have been expanding rmendations for annual flu shots, potentially ratcheting up demand.Biggest boost came in February, when an influential government advisory panel expanded annual flu shots rmendations to virtually all U.Children except infants younger than 6 months and those with serious egg allergies.Focused on children under 5.The action means about 30 million more children could be getting vaccinated, starting this year.Public health leaders are expected to discuss the 2008-2009 flu season next week, at a national influenza vaccine summit meeting in Atlanta hosted by the CDC and the American Medical Association.Each year, the flu results in 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths, according to official estimates.Elderly, young children and people with chronic illnesses are considered at greatest risk.___ On the Net: The CDC: Yahoo!RMEND THIS STORY Rmend It: Not at All Somewhat Moderately Highly Very Highly Average (Not Rated) _AP_ _AP_ _AP_ _AP_ _AP_ _AP_ _Reuters_ _AFP_ _AP_ _Reuters_ _ KREM Spokane/Coeur d'Alene - Fri May 9, 10:50 AM ET_ _ KING5 Seattle - Fri May 9, 9:17 AM ET_ _ WHAS TV11 Louisville - Thu May 8, 6:40 PM ET_ _ CNN - Thu May 8, 5:47 PM ET_ Sponsored Links ( ) Get your free credit report and score from FreeCreditReportв„ў.$150,000 Mortgage for $483/month.To 4 free quotes.$300,000 Mortgage for only $965/month.$1,000's - No obligation. Health Video Yahoo!Topic Pages Get in-depth coverage on and with new topic pages.Elsewhere On The Web ABC NEWS: ABC NEWS: TIME: YAHOO!How to give and get perfectly good stuff for free, reducing waste.From Y!Find answers on Yahoo!Add Headlines To Your Personalized My Yahoo!Health - AP NEWS ALERTS __ Get an alert when there are new stories about: Public health leaders American Medical Association national influenza vaccine Federal health officials Flu vaccine manufacturers - - SEARCH: All News Yahoo!News Photos Video/Audio PRIMARY NAVIGATION Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.Read more Phase i/ii study of s-1 combined with weekly docetaxel in patients with metastatic gastric carcinoma
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