WASHINGTON Sen. DeWine and others push to end shortage of kids' vaccines

The lawmaker said five of nine vaccines recommended for children are in short supply.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, is part of a bipartisan effort to end the shortage of children's vaccines and ensure that a constant, stable supply is available.
DeWine, along with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., introduced Thursday a bill, called the Childhood Vaccine Supply Act, that would authorize the Centers for Disease Control to stockpile enough universally recommended pediatric vaccines for all children for a six-month period.
At present, CDC stockpiles vaccines only for children eligible for the federal Vaccines for Children program.
Turned away: DeWine said that five of nine vaccines recommended for children are in short supply, and children are being turned away. The shortage includes the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella; varicella, diptheria Tetanus and pertussis; tetanus and diptheria toxoids; and the pneumococcal vaccine.
Unlike drug manufacturers, vaccine manufacturers are not required to give notice when they stop making a vaccine. The Childhood Vaccine Supply Act would require manufacturers to give a one-year advance notice when they intend to stop making a vaccine.
"The shortage of vaccines is not acceptable. Vaccines are our best defense against the threat of bacterial or viral infections and potential disease outbreaks," DeWine said.
Critical issue: He said vaccines are critical in protecting at-risk populations. They protect the elderly from influenza, and doctors recommend that children receive vaccinations against 11 diseases.
"It is outrageous to think that children coming in for routine vaccinations are being turned away at the doctor's office. After all our success in teaching parents to make sure their children are vaccinated, wait-listing children is a step backward," Clinton said.