Current Vaccine Shortages & Delays

This web page contains the latest national information about vaccine supplies and provides guidance to healthcare providers who are facing vaccine shortages or delays.

*Note: Only those vaccines included on the recommended childhood, adolescent, and adult immunization schedules for routine vaccination are included in this update.

 

Chart of Vaccines* in Delay or Shortage

National Vaccine Supply Shortages

Vaccine	Shortage	Temporary Change From Routine Recommendation
Diphtheria, Tetanus, & Pertussis (DTaP and Tdap)	No
Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)	No
Hepatitis A	See note 1
Hepatitis B	See note 2
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)	No
Inactivated Polio (IPV)	No
Influenza	No	See current information about influenza
Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR)	See note 3	See Q&As about monovalent M-M-R vaccines Oct 2009
Meningococcal Conjugated (MCV4)	No
Pneumococcal Conjugated (PCV)	No
Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (PPV)	No
Rotavirus	No
Serogroup B Meningococcal (MenB)	No
Td	No
Varicella/Zoster	No

Note¹: In light of ongoing outbreaks of Hepatitis A among adults in several US cities, the demand for adult Hepatitis A vaccine has increased substantially over the past 6 months and vaccine supply to meet this unexpected demand in the US has become constrained. US-licensed manufacturers of Hepatitis A vaccine for adults (GlaxoSmithKline and Merck Vaccines) report that unexpected demand globally has also constrained supplies for this vaccine outside the US. In order to address current supply constraints in the US, CDC staff are working directly with public health officials to provide guidance about how best to target vaccine distribution. In addition, US-licensed manufacturers of adult Hepatitis A vaccine are exploring options to increase domestic supply and are working collaboratively with CDC to monitor and manage public and private vaccine orders to make the best use supplies of adult Hepatitis A vaccine during this period of unexpected increased demand. Merck has reported that its adult Hepatitis A vaccine is temporarily unavailable for shipping. Of note, the constraints described in this footnote do not apply to the pediatric Hepatitis A vaccine supply in the US. Updated Oct 2017

Note²: Merck is not currently distributing its adult Hepatitis B vaccine and does not expect to be distributing adult Hepatitis B vaccine between now and the end of 2018. Additionally, Merck anticipates that its pediatric Hepatitis B vaccine will be unavailable between early August 2017 and early 2018. Merck’s supply of the dialysis formulation of Hepatitis B vaccine, however, is not affected and is expected to remain available. GSK has sufficient supplies of adult and pediatric Hepatitis B vaccines to address these anticipated gap in Merck’s supply of adult and pediatric Hepatitis B vaccines during these time periods; however, preferences for a specific presentation (i.e., vial versus syringe) may not be met consistently during this time. Updated Jul 2017

Note³: Based on input from the ACIP, professional societies, scientific leaders, and customers on October 26, 2009 Merck announced the company has decided not to resume production of ATTENUVAX® (Measles Virus Vaccine Live), MUMPSVAX® (Mumps Virus Vaccine Live), and MERUVAX®II (Rubella Virus Vaccine Live). This science-based decision will support vaccination of the largest group of appropriate individuals. Updated Jan 2010

 

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Why are there vaccine shortages?

In the United States shortages of many vaccines in the recommended childhood immunization schedule occurred in the past. Some of these shortages were widespread while others were localized. Reasons for these shortages were multi-factorial and included companies leaving the vaccine market, manufacturing or production problems, and insufficient stockpiles. Consequently, some shortages were only specific to one manufacturer.

Shortages of several of these vaccines necessitated temporary changes in recommendations for their use. During that period, summary information about the shortages including projected duration and recommendations for temporary changes in the childhood immunization schedule were provided.

 

Who can I contact to answer my questions?

• Questions including those dealing with changes in child care and school requirements necessitated by vaccine supply problems when they occur can be answered by State Health Department immunization programs.
• General immunization questions can be answered by
  The CDC Contact Center at 1-800-CDC-INFO
  (1-800-232-4636) English and Español

 

How often will this information be updated?

This vaccines shortages page is updated as needed. If you wish to be notified when it is updated, please use enter your email on this page in the box labeled “Get Email Updates”.

The FDA’s web page on Biological Product Shortages provides additional information regarding regulatory issues related to vaccine supply.

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Acronyms and Abbreviations

Those acronyms and abbrevations not already spelled out above include

• AAFP – American Academy of Family Physicians
• AAP – American Academy of Pediatrics
• ACIP – Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
• CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• FDA – Food and Drug Administration
• GAO – United States General Accounting Office
• GSK – GlaxoSmithKline
• MMRV – Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella combination vaccine
• MMWR – Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
• NCIRD – National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
• TTY – teletypewriter
• Other acronyms

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Related Information

• Shortages of travel-related vaccines
• Recalls
• Status of Recently Submitted, Licensed, and Recommended Vaccines & Biologics
  Red Book® Online
• Influenza Vaccination Recommendations
• Childhood & Adolescent Immunization Schedules
• Adult Immunization Schedule
• Standards for Immunization Practices for children & adolescents and adults [7 pages]

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