An English pharmaceuticals wholesaler that entered a contract last year as part of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s plan to buy $7 million worth of flu shots from Europe has sued the State of Illinois because it has not paid for the vaccine.
The inoculations never arrived in the United States because federal drug regulators blocked their importation.
The wholesaler, Ecosse Hospital Products Limited, said in a complaint filed with the state Court of Claims that regardless of whether the vaccine was delivered, the company had acquired and stored more than 250,000 units of vaccine for the state. Ecosse is seeking the state’s share of the purchase, approximately $2.6 million plus interest.
Hynes, whose office controls state payments, said he would not allow state dollars to be paid to Ecosse because the state never received the vaccine.
Blagojevich said Thursday that the state should pay the bill.
