Voluntary Rationing of Flu Shots Due to Shortage
KAGAN: Federal health officials are calling for a voluntary rationing of flu shots because of an expected shortage. British officials shut down a major supplier of flu vaccine for the U.S. because of manufacturing problems. On CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," a top infectious disease specialist said that available vaccines should be reserved for high-risk groups.</s>DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATL. INST. OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: What we were hoping is that people would comply with the issue, that if you're a healthy adult, you will in fact forestall your vaccination. Earlier we had recommended essentially to everyone who was within the categories of possibly getting it to get the vaccine. What we're doing right now is that we're telling people to forestall that so that we can get to the people who really do need it and are of the highest risk.</s>KAGAN: A shortage of flu vaccine is the focus of our "Daily Dose" of health news. Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here to talk about who should be first in line to get that vaccine. Good morning.</s>ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Well, you and I should probably not be first in line.</s>KAGAN: I'm good with that.</s>COHEN: Young, healthy. All of that...</s>KAGAN: Young, young, young, young.</s>COHEN: Young, young, young, young. I'll keep saying that. I'll keep saying that. It sounds good. As we just heard from Dr. Anthony Fauci, there is definitely going to be a pecking order for who gets the vaccine this year, and it's going to be worst than in other years. Now, this is the third time since the year 2000 that there's been a shortage or a delay in the flu vaccine, but this year portends to be much worse.</s>HOWARD PIEN, CEO, CHIRON CORPORATION: We profoundly -- and I cannot overemphasize how profoundly -- we profoundly regret that we will be unable to meet public health needs this season.</s>COHEN: The timing is especially bad because many expected last year's severe flu season would mean even more people lining up for shots this year.</s>TOMMY THOMPSON, HHS SECRETARY: This is very disappointing news that creates a serious challenge to our vaccine supply for the upcoming flu season.</s>COHEN: The government's strategy now? Get flu shots only to those who really need it.</s>THOMPSON: Our immediate focus will be on making sure that the supply of vaccine we do have reaches those who are the most vulnerable.</s>COHEN: The CDC says among those who should get flu shots first: children ages six to 23 months, adults over age 65, adults and children with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, and anyone who could spread the flu to those at high risk. And health officials say everyone else should wait until those who really need the shot get them first.</s>KAGAN: We're talking about this so-called line -- like get in line -- and where you should go. Are flu shot police out there that are regulating who's going to get it and who isn't?</s>COHEN: You know what? There are no flu shot police. And so, really it's kind of an ethical decision that each person needs to make -- if you're not really old, if you're not really young, if you don't have a chronic disease, and you know in your heart, "Really, I ought to wait. I ought to not just be at the front of the line. I really ought to be at the back of the line." But no one is going to tell you no. Chances are if you show up at, you know, your supermarket, they're offering flu shots, or your doctor's office, chances are no one's going to tell you no. It really is a sort of a self-control issue, if you will.</s>KAGAN: All right, based on information. Thank you so much, Elizabeth Cohen. And your "Daily Dose" of health news is always just a click away. Log onto cnn.com/health for the latest medical news, a health library, and information on diet and fitness. Up next, you know her family's name -- it's familiar in politics -- now she's making it on her own, making her own name at the local bookstore. Kristin Gore joins me live up next.