Shortage of vaccines must be overcome

When Edward Jenner developed a vaccine for smallpox -- the first vaccine in medical history -- at the end of the 18th century, he set in motion the development of vaccines for countless other diseases that, until shots became widely available, caused millions of deaths.

It wasn't until the late 1970s, however, that a worldwide effort against smallpox was successful. Subsequently, the dreaded disease was declared conquered and no longer a threat to human health.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. While widespread smallpox epidemics have been eliminated, there are still occasional cases of smallpox. And because of the success of the vaccination campaign, many of us have been lulled into thinking smallpox inoculations are no longer necessary. As a result, there's no telling how many people worldwide have no protection against smallpox.

More than that, we are learning more and more about the shortages of vaccines for many other common diseases. And we are constantly being reminded how diseases thought to no longer be a threat can suddenly infect a lot of people.

Take measles, for example. From time to time localized epidemics of this disease, usually seen in small children, breaks out in high schools or universities where students are in close contact with each other and where it is easy to spread the contagious disease among those who haven't had follow-up shots.

Health officials say there is a potential for outbreaks of other diseases as well. And it's not always because parents are neglecting to have their children properly inoculated. It's because there is a shortage of some vaccines.

Forty years ago, there were nearly 40 vaccine manufacturers. Today there are only four major vaccine producers, and only two of those are headquartered in the United States. The federal government buys childhood vaccines from producers at prices that are as low as 38 percent of market price. These slim profit margins and strict federal standards have combined to produce the current shortages.

There is a worldwide effort under way to eliminate polio from the planet. This effort is funded mostly by more than $2 billion dollars raised by Rotary International around the world. The aim is to have everyone protected from by 2005.

It is inconceivable to think this goal might not be achieved because there isn't enough vaccine to do the job.

But the realities of vaccine shortages can't be ignored. The failure to take steps to ensure an adequate supply of needed vaccines could pose a national and worldwide health threat of unimaginable proportions.