On September 27th physicians, hospitals, attorneys and the public health department
met at the San Bernardino County Medical Society to address the confusion surrounding
influenza vaccines for 2001.
In 2000 there was a shortage as well as a delay in distribution of the flu vaccine across the country. There will not be a shortage of vaccine in 2001 but there will be a delay that will necessitate creating a prioritized (phased) system where vaccine available early is targeted to those at greatest risk of severe influenza and its complications.
The manufacturers have projected that total influenza vaccine distribution for 2001-02 will be greater than in 2000 and comparable with 1999. However, there will be a delay in distribution. An estimated 44.6 million doses of the total (79.1 million doses) is projected to be available by the end of October. Overall, 34.5 million doses are projected to be delivered in November and December.
In late August 2001 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association met in Chicago, Illinois. The results of all of the stakeholders (the producers, distributors, nurses, physicians, pharmacists and hospitals) was that we should take the message of delay, not shortage, to our local communities and create a sharing program between providers who received the vaccine early and those who do not to try to insure that the high risk population is vaccinated as soon as possible.
It is important to educate the public that this is a delay in distribution. The plans are to distribute the vaccine differently than last year so that all orders, large or small, get a portion of the vaccine early to cover the high-risk population.
A state meeting held September 7, 2001 resulted in encouraging local medical societies and public health departments to coordinate a local distribution system. The FDA removed the legal hurdle allowing sharing earlier this year.
It is clear that not all providers will receive the vaccine at the same time
so a clearinghouse should be established to coordinate sharing between providers.
At the September 27th meeting it was agreed that Joseph Geierman, Jr., Pharm.D.,
Director, Pharmacy & Formulary Administration, Beaver Medical Group, 242
Cajon St., Redlands 92373, 909-335-4182, will be the clearinghouse for sharing
vaccine in our area.
