SANTA FE, N.M. -- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson Friday expressed concern about the way the critical shortage of flu vaccine is being handled by the federal government.
In a letter to Health and Human Service Secretary Tommy Thompson, Richardson said he found it "unacceptable" for the Centers for Disease Control to bypass state health agencies in deciding who gets the vaccine.
"Three weeks after the announcement of the vaccine shortage, CDC has only now begun to systematically collect any information from state health agencies on the needs of their residents," Richardson said.
"As of today, New Mexico has not received any detailed information about the number of doses that will be made available."
Richardson also urged Thompson to reconsider stockpiling four million doses of children's vaccine for future emergencies "while we have a serious shortage of vaccine for the current flu season."
"Further, I strongly encourage you to instruct the Food and Drug Administration to create mechanisms to obtain safe and available vaccines from other countries," he said.
