Hoping to forestall the types of problems encountered during the 2004 - 05 flu season when one major U.S. flu vaccine supplier was unable to provide any vaccine, the AAFP is urging members to adopt a two-tiered vaccine prebooking plan for the 2005 - 06 flu season.
Academy Adopts ACIP, CDC Flu Vaccine Prebooking Strategy
By News Staff
4/20/2005
Developed by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and CDC and outlined in the April 1 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, you can read "Influenza Vaccine Pre-booking and Distribution Strategies for the 2005 - 06 Influenza Season" on the AAFP's Immunization Resources Web page.
Briefly, the CDC encourages vaccine manufacturers and distributors, as well as health care professionals, to submit their prebooking orders for inactivated flu vaccine in two parts:
Briefly, the CDC encourages vaccine manufacturers and distributors, as well as health care professionals, to submit their prebooking orders for inactivated flu vaccine in two parts:
- the number of doses needed based on anticipated demand by individuals in priority groups, in the event the vaccine supply is limited; and
- the number of doses needed based on priority-group use plus use by other groups, assuming supply is sufficient to meet demand.
Priority Groups for Prebooking of Flu Vaccine
The new policy encourages distribution of vaccine in partial shipments, when possible, beginning with doses allocated for administration to high-risk patients. This approach, it is hoped, will help ensure these individuals receive vaccine even if supplies become limited.
This recommended prebooking strategy does not apply to orders for live attenuated vaccine.
