FDA Saw Problems at Vaccine Plant in 2003

[WestHoustonDem]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041117/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/flu_vaccine

[ahimsa]

1. Excerpt

Excerpt from story 

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) uncovered contamination and unsanitary conditions at a British flu vaccine manufacturing plant in 2003 but failed to re-inspect it until similar problems caused the loss of half the U.S. vaccine supply in October, the top FDA (news - web sites) official said Wednesday.

FDA inspectors who visited the Chiron Corp. plant in Liverpool in June 2003 found records of bacteria concentrations a thousand times the expected level, said a report distributed by Democrats at a hearing of the House Government Reform Committee (news - web sites).

The preliminary inspection report from last month indicates in three places that deficiencies found in 2003 had not been corrected.
...

[blitzburgh55]

3. I remember reading about this earlier

and that Waxman wanted this info out before the election. But, of course it didn't happen.

[blitzburgh55]

4. Here's the article

Flu shot inquiry gets political

Los Angeles Times


WASHINGTON — Rep. Henry Waxman said Tuesday he had been informed by an insider at the Food and Drug Administration that the agency was withholding documents sought by Congress that address whether the FDA could have prevented the flu vaccine shortage.

According to Waxman, D-Calif., the FDA employee recently contacted him and claimed materials had been prepared for release by the end of last week, but that an FDA official decided to withhold them until after the Nov. 2 presidential election.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/2004/10/27/news/nation/10023837.htm

[struggle4progress]

6. Many thanks for the excerpt! eom

[bullimiami]

2. This is the BUSH FDA.

Assholes. We said it was Bushistas fault, only half kidding. I guess we were right.

Where was the news media before the election? MIA again.

[CAcyclist]

5. Problems with that plant go back

further than last year. See my previous posts from last month once search reenabled

[VegasWolf]

7. They were consumed at the time with protecting Vioxx! n/t