N.J. Hospital Thwarts Smuggled Flu Vaccine

SOMERS POINT, N.J. -- A New Jersey hospital helped thwart an attempted sale of smuggled flu vaccine, authorities said.

"From the initial contact, it lit us up like a Christmas tree," said Albert Gutierrez, Shore Memorial Hospital's president and CEO.

Shore Memorial was approached this month with an offer to buy 8,000 doses of vaccine through unfamiliar channels. Instead, hospital officials called authorities.

The cost of the smuggled doses was not immediately known. A vial with about 10 flu shots normally costs around $80, but there have been reports of price-gouging where the asking price was as much as $600.
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The vaccine was intercepted by authorities when it arrived in the United States through a commercial shipping company, said Marc Raimondi, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"We feel pretty confident this is the only shipment with this investigation," Raimondi said. And none entered the nation's supply of vaccine, Raimondi said.

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