Senator hints flu research cash coming
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 · Last updated 9:42 p.m. PT
By LAURA MECKLER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- A senator suggested Tuesday that money federal health officials have sought to upgrade flu vaccine production is on the way - an effort to avoid another year like this one, when the United States lost nearly half its supply of vaccine.
The current system for producing flu vaccine relies on millions of chicken eggs, which are used to incubate the viruses needed to create the vaccine. Many scientists believe the system could be improved by brewing vaccines in human and monkey cells instead.
The Health and Human Services Department has requested $100 million to speed this transition. This year, it got $50 million.