OLD SAYBROOK, Conn., Oct 18, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Approximately a third of U.S. companies responding to an online poll said the shortage of flu vaccine had forced them to cancel employee flu shot programs.

Representatives of 373 companies responded to the survey, conducted by Business and Legal Reports, and 35 percent said they were forced to cancel plans to make the flu vaccine available to employees because approximately half of the U.S. vaccine supply has been deemed unusable due to bacterial contamination.

About 21 percent of respondents said they still planned to provide shots to their employees but it was uncertain if they would be able to. Seventeen percent said they were going ahead with flu shot programs, and 28 percent said they never had plans to provide the shots to employees.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that healthy people forgo getting a flu shot this year so the limited supply of vaccine can be given to those most at risk of death and other complications due to the flu: the elderly, children under 2 years of age, and the chronically ill.

• More news on Immunization
• More news on Influenza

Related MedlinePlus Pages:

• Immunization
• Influenza