To plan for the 2005—06 influenza season, CDC
encourages implementation of a two-tiered pre-booking strategy by manufacturers, distributors, and customers
of inactivated vaccine. This pre-booking strategy requires customers of inactivated vaccine to provide two
requests for supplies, using 1) the number of doses needed based on anticipated demand among persons in the
priority groups, in the event vaccine supply is limited, and 2) the number of doses needed based on priority
group use, plus other groups, if supplies prove sufficient to meet demand from other persons seeking
vaccination.
The following priority groups should be used
as a guide for pre-booking orders for inactivated influenza vaccine:
- Persons aged >65 years.
- Persons aged 2--64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions.
- All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season.
- All children aged 6--23 months.
- Health-care workers involved in direct patient care.
- Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged <6 months.
- Residents of nursing homes and long-term--care facilities.
- Children aged 6 months--18 years on chronic aspirin therapy.
Individuals who fall outside of this group should be immunized only if there is an adequate supply of influenza vaccine.
Whenever feasible, CDC also encourages a
distribution strategy in which partial shipments are first shipped to all pre-booked customers early in
the vaccination season, followed by additional shipments later in the season. This strategy will enable
all providers to administer vaccine initially to those persons at high risk, even when supplies are
limited.
For more information visit www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5412a4.htm
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New
Immunization Recommendations for High Risk Adults < 65
Years
According to a report from The Task Force on Community Preventive
Services, choosing the right interventions could improve vaccination
coverage of high risk adults < 65 years old. A report from
the Task Force, a private group that studies the effectiveness
of different types of health interventions, provides recommendations
for interventions that target three vaccinations: influenza,
pneumococcal polysaccharide, and hepatitis B. To increase
targeted vaccination coverage, the Task Force recommends a
combination of interventions that include selected interventions
from two or three categories of interventions (i.e., increasing
community demand for vaccinations, enhancing access to vaccination
services, and provider- or system-based interventions). The
Task Force also recommends provider reminders, when implemented
alone, to improve targeted vaccination coverage. More information
can be found at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5405a1.htm
Available Now: New VIS Statement
for Meningococcal Vaccines
A new meningococcal Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) was recently posted to
coincide with the licensure and distribution of the new meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra™).
This VIS is to be used for both Menactra and the existing meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine. However,
existing stocks of the older (7/28/03) VIS for the polysaccharide vaccine may still be used for that vaccine
only. The new VIS is considered an interim edition, pending publication of Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) recommendations and addition of the vaccine to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The new
VIS statement can be found at www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-mening.pdf
Vaccine Coverage Rates Reported for 2004-2005 Influenza Season
Research shows that the designation of priority groups in October 2004 -- in response to the unexpected shortfall
in influenza vaccine supply -- successfully directed the nation’s influenza supply to those at highest risk.
Influenza vaccination coverage levels through January 2005 among adults in priority groups nearly reached those
in recent years, whereas coverage levels among adults not in priority groups were approximately half of levels in
2003, in part because 9.3% of those unvaccinated persons in non-priority groups declined vaccination this season.
In addition, vaccination coverage among children aged 6--23 months was notable (48.4%), given that 2004--05 was the
first year this group was recommended for influenza vaccination. For more information visit
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5412a3.htm
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