Novartis answers H1N1 vaccine shortage, U.S. government pressured

With the Obama administration coming under fire for failing to deliver adequate swine flu vaccinations for the American public, Novartis announces its intention to supply 30 million more doses.

The H1N1 swine flu virus has been a source of headaches for the Obama administration, as shortages in vaccine dosages have been prompting calls for the federal government to do more to protect the American population. While the production shortages have been caused by delays from vaccine manufacturers, the issue has begun to cause an erosion in the public's confidence that the Obama camp can deliver the needed vaccines on a massive scale. Novartis announced on Thursday its intention to deliver 30 million more doses to the United States by the end of November. To date, the U.S. has received roughly 23 million doses from Novartis, representing just 51 percent of the vaccine dosages promised to the U.S. by mid-October. Earlier this week, President Obama declared the H1N1 swine flu virus a national emergency. The swine flu virus has been associated with more than 1,000 deaths so far in the U.S. alone.