Influenza: Vaccine Storage Problem Creates Need for Additional Batch

by: The Horse Staff
October 08 2007, Article # 10557

Queensland Government officials put in an urgent request for an additional batch of equine influenza vaccine when a problem was discovered with a shipment of 4,800 vials that arrived from Sydney by private contractor on Saturday morning. The new batch of vaccine was distributed Oct. 6 and further supplies will arrive this week, according to the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
One of two temperature sensors indicated the original shipment had been exposed to temperatures below the recommended storage temperature. The drop in temperature could reduce or even nullify the effectiveness of the vaccine.

While Glanville said it was possible that the batch's temperature sensor had malfunctioned, he said the department was not prepared to distribute a vaccine in which they did not have complete confidence.
As of today there are 799 infected properties in Queensland.
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10557&nID=6

(Note: You would hope they would be able to test it for effectiveness and perhaps use it on Red zone horses etc, rather than throw it away...)

(Forwarded by K Morgan)