Pandemic flu scare fades, vaccine glut seen for Glaxo

The influenza pandemic that swept the globe and fueled concern that millions of people would die has resulted in an unprecedented glut of vaccine as fewer people than expected have sought immunization. Sagging demand has left governments worldwide with surpluses of swine flu vaccine. Many are now selling or donating the excess or slashing pending orders. The biggest vaccine makers -- GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Sanofi-Aventis SA, Baxter International Inc., Novartis AG and CSL Ltd. -- are seeing a potential $7.6 billion sales windfall shrink, analysts said. The first flu pandemic in 40 years prompted a worldwide rush in 2009 to secure supplies of vaccine against the H1N1 virus. When the disease turned out to be milder than predicted, people already wary about the shot's safety and possible side effects hesitated to get inoculated and demand for it declined.