U.S. gets flu vaccine from German source

WASHINGTON – More flu vaccine, this time from Germany, will be available to help alleviate the U.S. crunch, but that still will leave the country with just two-thirds of what was initially expected.

Hopes for a million more doses from Canada have fallen through.

The Food and Drug Administration has been investigating German and Canadian manufacturers of vaccines that are not licensed for the United States to see if the vaccines could be sold here under a special agreement.

The deal is done for 4 million doses of the German vaccine, but the Canadian company is opting to keep its surplus shots at home.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said Friday his agency had authorized use of a vaccine called Fluarix, manufactured in Germany, and was immediately buying 1.2 million doses. About 250,000 doses already are in hand, he said, and the rest should be available this month.