Chiron revises flu-vaccine forecasts.

Byline: Judy Silber

Jun. 16--Back-pedaling on estimates made only six weeks ago, Emeryville-based Chiron Corp. said on Wednesday that it will produce fewer doses of flu vaccine than it had projected, causing Wall Street analysts to question the company's ability to deliver on its promises.

Saying that it could not ramp up to full manufacturing capacity as quickly as planned, Chiron said it will only make 18 million to 26 million doses for the 2005 flu season.

The adjustment highlights the uncertainty that surrounds the vaccine supply for this year's flu season because of contamination problems that arose last year at Chiron's Liverpool, England, manufacturing plant. Without Chiron, the …