Children's flu shots delayed in United States

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Flu shots specially formulated for young children will be delayed in the United States and might not be available until November, the American Academy of Pediatrics said on Monday.

Sanofi Pasteur said plenty of its FluZone vaccine will be available but there was a delay in shipping it. Pediatricians can expect supplies in November and December -- well before the usual influenza peak in February.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children of 6 months to 5 years old receive the flu vaccine. Those vaccinated for the first time need two doses four weeks apart.

The special formulation is meant for children aged 3 and under.

The CDC expects more than 100 million doses of flu vaccine for the U.S. market this year, from five makers. That is the most ever made for the United States.

Flu kills an estimated 36,000 Americans every year, mostly elderly. But anywhere from a few dozen to more than a hundred young children die of flu complications in the United States every year.