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July 1, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Should the Government Make Vaccines?"

Technology Review (www.technologyreview.com) (05/02) Vol. 105, No. 4, P. 38

In the investigations into overall preparedness following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent anthrax mailings, the United States found that its system for producing and delivering vaccines--for any kind of microbe--is out of date and unable to handle a serious highly contagious disease should one arise.  The market-driven economy in the United States has left the vaccine industry quite small, as vaccines are difficult to make yet do not return much profit; of the major pharmaceutical companies in the world, only four still make vaccines, often not enough for the richest countries, let alone all nations.  Production can be interrupted for any number of reasons, including decisions to make other drugs at a particular plant, shut-downs for mistakes or inspection, or regulatory changes.  The industry has always been in favor of this system because companies can make some small profit off the vaccine industry, but the sudden awareness of America's vulnerability to a chemical or biologic attack caused many prominent scientists to consider seriously the idea of government intervention in the sector.  The Institute of Medicine has been a proponent of a government-backed, contractor-operated plant for some time, but a governmental institution has only gained widespread favor in recent months. The risk of bioterror attack is not the only cause of the change of heart, as recent troubles at vaccine makers have resulted in shortages across the nation for some 11 diseases that are traditionally uncommon in the United States--because of constant vaccination.  The Institute of Medicine is not looking for the government to take over the drug industry, as some have feared; rather, the group would like to see a public-private partnership along the lines of those created during World War II to provide penicillin for Allied soldiers, which eventually became a sufficient supply of the drug for the entire population.  Even so, pharmaceutical executives are loath to have increased government participation in the industry, claiming that intervention will in fact drop productivity at vaccine makers as prices are kept artificially low for the government.

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