Illinois negotiating purchase of flu vaccine in Europe

CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich says his administration has negotiated a tentative agreement to purchase at least 30,000 flu vaccinations from a British wholesaler, but federal regulators must approve the deal.

Blagojevich's office said a letter would be sent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today requesting its approval of the deal, which would allow the state to provide flu shots to Illinoisans at risk for serious complications from the flu.

"I am calling on the FDA to work with us immediately to allow us to purchase the flu shots we need," Blagojevich said. "The sooner they give their approval, the sooner we can get flu vaccines to the senior citizens who need them the most."

The wholesaler is one the state has been in touch with through its I-SaveRx program, which offers Illinois residents access to affordable prescription drugs from pharmacies in Britain and Canada.

State officials have negotiated a purchase price of $7 a dose, about 30 percent less than what is currently charged in the United States, according to the governor's office.

The nation's supply of the vaccine became scarce after British manufacturer Chiron Corp. was barred from shipping any of its doses because of contamination. Chiron accounts for about half the U.S. vaccine supply.

Each year, 200,000 Americans are hospitalized with the virus and 36,000 die.