CNN.com - Ban extended at flu vaccine plant

CNN.com - Ban extended at flu vaccine plant: "LONDON, England (CNN) -- The UK government has extended by three months a ban on the production of influenza vaccine at Chiron Corp.'s plant in Britain.
The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency -- Britain's health care regulator -- said the new ban would begin when the current order expires on January 3, 2005.

But the regulator said the extension was not a result of newly identified safety issues at the company's Liverpool plant.
'It is routine regulatory action to give Chiron more time to carry out the extensive and detailed remedial plan which is now being put in place,' it said in a statement.

The new ban could potentially threaten next year's supply of flu vaccine for the United States.

The original ban pulled off the market 48 million doses of vaccine intended for the United States -- half the country's supply."