"When many cures are offered for a disease, it means the disease is not curable" -Anton Chekhov
''Once you tell people there's a cure for something, the more likely they are to pressure doctors to prescribe it.'' -Robert Ehrlich, drug advertising executive.
"Opinions are like sphincters, everyone has one." - Chris Rangel
On Monday flu shot recommendations were expanded to include everyone as officials estimated that manufacturers would be able to meet vaccine demand.
Vaccine makers now expect to produce at least 71 million flu shots for the 2005-2006 season. Chiron is expected to produce less than the 18 million to 26 million doses it had originally projected for this year.
'There is no reason for anyone to delay or to go without their annual flu shot,' Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt told reporters.
Still, clinics and doctors offices have reported some delays in receiving promised vaccines from manufacturers, frustrating early efforts by some patients to get vaccinated.
Leavitt called the reports 'anecdotal' but emphasized them in encouraging patients to be persistent in seeking flu shots. 'We anticipate that the suppliers will be responding to their customers in regular order,' he said.
