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Flu Season 2003-04
Influenza
Vaccine Bulletin #1
Flu Season 2003-2004
May 22, 2003
Topics
Vaccine Supply and Production
Vaccine Distribution and Administration
Vaccine Communications
Printable
version of this bulletin
The National Immunization Program
(NIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes
and distributes periodic bulletins to update partners about recent
developments related to the production, distribution, and administration
of influenza vaccine. All recipients of this bulletin are encouraged
to distribute each issue widely to colleagues, members, and constituents.
| Influenza
Vaccine Supply and Production |
2003-2004
influenza vaccine strains
The 2003-2004 influenza vaccine
formulation includes A/New Caledonia/20/99-like (H1N1),
A/Panama/2007/99 (H3N2), and B/Hong Kong/330/2001-like virus
strains, exactly the same formulation as in the 2002-03
season.
The Food
and Drug Adminstration (FDA) does not recommend the use
of any vaccine beyond its expiration date. Influenza vaccine
produced in 2002 outdates June 30, 2003. The
FDA has issued a statement, posted on its web site at http://www.fda.gov/cber/flu/flu.htm
, to address issues concerning use of last season's influenza
vaccine.
Place orders
now for influenza vaccine!
Healthcare
providers who have not yet placed orders should do so as
soon as possible. Additional information about sources of
vaccine can be found at http://www.hida.org/link_frame.asp?URL=http://www.hida.org/govtrelations/flulinks.asp,
a service provided by the Health Industry Distributors Association.
Projection
for this year's influenza vaccine supply
Vaccine
manufacturers Aventis Pasteur and Powderject Vaccines (Powderject
produces the Evans vaccines brand) project an aggregate
total of 80-85 million doses of influenza vaccine for the
U. S. market this year. This is 10-15 million doses below
last year's total, yet greater than the estimated 79 million
doses sold to individuals in 2002.
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The Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has released its
influenza vaccine recommendations for the 2003-04 flu season,
published in the April 25 CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report (MMWR). The recommendations refer specifically to the
timing of vaccinations for at-risk and target groups.
The
best time to be vaccinated against influenza continues to
be October and November. Because of vaccine distribution
delays during the period 2000-2002, ACIP recommends that
the following persons should be vaccinated in October:
- Adults
aged 50 or older
- Infants
and children aged 6 through 23 months
- Anyone
aged 2-49 years who is at increased risk for influenza-related
complications
- Children
aged less than 9 years who are receiving their first influenza
vaccination
- Healthcare
workers
- All
household contacts of persons at high risk for influenza
All
other groups can be vaccinated in November. To see this
issue of MMWR (MMWR 2003; 52(RR-8)), go
to http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5208.pdf
New
Medicare payment rates for influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis
B vaccine administration became effective March 1, 2003.
Medicare's
2003 vaccine administration rate allowances average $7.72
for 2003, a 94% increase over 2002. The rates range from
$5.34 to $10.98, depending on geographic location. To determine
the rate for a specific locale, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/preventiveservices/2.asp
To download an Excel table for rates, look for the link
03 Pay Rates in the yellow "News"
box on the right side of the page. Please note, the payment
rate for the 2003 influenza vaccine has note yet been determined.
Amendment
to Medicare Standing Orders rule eliminates physician signature
requirement for influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations in
hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies.
The
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid published a rule on October
2, 2002 that eliminates the physician signature requirement
for the administration of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations
from the Conditions of Participation for Medicare and Medicaid
participating hospitals, long-term care facilities, and
home health agencies. Influenza
and pneomococcal vaccines can now be administered per physician-approved
facility or agency following assessment of contraindications.
To review
the details of this and other recommendations, see MMWR
article in the January 31, 2003 issue "Facilitating
Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccination Through Standing
Orders Programs" (MMWR 2003;52(04):68-69). The
entire issue is available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/wk/mm5204.pdf
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