Further distribution is highly encouraged.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, shipment of the vaccine has been delayed because manufacturers had difficulty growing a new flu strain. Additionally, two of the four pharmaceutical companies that provide the vaccine have had production problems. One such company supplies nearly 2.5 million doses to the armed forces. The military generally uses 2.8 million doses to cover all active duty and eligible beneficiaries. Influenza epidemics in the United States typically occur in the winter and early spring.