Report: Ohio forced to waste swine-flu vaccine

COLUMBUS (AP) — Remember last fall’s long lines for swine flu shots in Ohio? Now, the state has so much vaccine that a newspaper concludes much will be wasted.

The Columbus Dispatch reports today that Ohio Department of Health data show almost 1.5 million doses of vaccine statewide hit their expiration dates before they were used. Officials say demand died off when flu season turned out relatively mild.

The state is sitting on about another 1 million unused doses that are still good.

Department spokeswoman Jen House cautions that the information is incomplete because hundreds of vaccine providers have not turned in reports on usage, as requested.

In Columbus, Franklin County Health Commissioner Susan Tilgner says her department has disposed of 9,200 expired doses.