United Airlines Ends Vaccine Support to Pacific Islands

 (PHOTO: ScienceBuzz)(HN, 4/24/12) - Flu vaccines may not arrive as expected in 6 Pacific islands beginning this year after United Airlines discontinued the service of shipping them for free from the US Department of Defense,  as was the carriers practice.  Pacific Island Health Officers Association's Michael Epp relayed the message to its members  which include American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, & Palau, in a letter last week. The annual practice was started by Continental Airlines in 2007; United bought Continental in May, 2010.  Hawaiian Airlines & Continental Micronesia are also partners with DOD but only fly to some countries.   Even with more than 26,000 flu doses sent last year, most of the islands are still short. In its letter to DOD United's regional sales manager for southwest region, Bill Conrad, indicated that "while I do believe this is a worthy cause, unfortunately is does not align with our overall corporate efforts and strategies,” adding that it will not able to extend any gratis support for this movement. (Read more at Saipan Tribune)