CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois authorities asked on Monday for federal approval to import from Europe thousands of doses of flu vaccine that the state located through its controversial program to buy cheaper medicines for older Americans.
The U.S. shortage of vaccine as the flu season approaches has become a nightmare for those seeking flu shots, and a political issue ahead of November's presidential election.
Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich said his emissaries located 30,000 doses of flu vaccine from French maker Aventis-Pasteur and may have found an additional 32,000 to 57,000 doses.
Blagojevich said GlaxoSmithKline Plc in Great Britain could be a source for additional doses, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration must approve any transactions.
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