FPs Begin Receiving Influenza Vaccine

Influenza season is around the corner, and some influenza vaccine shipments are arriving in family physicians' offices and nonmedical sites. To help members stay up-to-date on influenza vaccine questions, the Academy has put Influenza Vaccine Information 2006-2007 on its Web site.

The FDA is citing figures from the CDC that put the production level for influenza vaccine this year at about 115 million doses of influenza vaccine, which is about 32 million more doses than in any previous year. The CDC is encouraging health care professionals to "vaccinate anyone seeking vaccine," as more than 75 million doses are scheduled to be shipped by Oct. 31. Regional differences in deliveries are expected, and some manufacturers and distributors are making deliveries in phases instead of sending full shipments.

"Optimally, all vaccination should take place within the patient's medical home, that is, where a patient receives their comprehensive health care," says the CDC in a Q and A on influenza vaccine issues.

"The AAFP had influence in developing that statement," says AAFP President Rick Kellerman, M.D., of Wichita, Kan. He complimented the AAFP Task Force on Influenza Vaccine and noted AAFP's close collaboration with the CDC on vaccination issues, including ongoing work with the National Influenza Vaccine Summit.

"We are aware that, thus far, many members have received only partial orders of influenza vaccine, and we know some local retail outlets are scheduling influenza immunization clinics," says Kellerman. "This is creating concerns about whether practices will receive and be able to use all the vaccine they have ordered. It is worth noting, though, that according to the CDC, only 10 percent of those who received the vaccine last year were vaccinated in retail stores."

In addition, says Kellerman, "it's important for us to remember that each year, millions of people remain unvaccinated, and we should be offering the vaccine into January and beyond."

A Oct. 5 story on National Public Radio, "Doctors Report Feast and Famine for Flu Vaccines," quotes FP Leonard Finn, M.D., of Needham, Mass., as saying many family physicians have no vaccine or less than 10 percent of their vaccine order, "while big chains everywhere have all the vaccine they need."

The CDC is urging manufacturers and distributors "not to favor big retail chains over doctors' offices," a CDC official says in the NPR story. However, CDC officials add that they do not control the flu vaccine distribution system. NPR also quotes a representative from vaccine distributor Henry Schein Inc. as saying that the CDC is not sending a clear message about who should get the vaccine.

The CDC also notes that providers may have a difficult time finding vaccine to administer to all three-year-old children. The CDC recommends that all children aged 24 to 59 months be vaccinated; however, there is only one supplier of vaccine for this age group, and all of this vaccine was pre-booked in January 2006. "If a provider has insufficient vaccine for this age group, CDC recommends that children six to 23 months of age be prioritized as they are at increased risk for hospitalization," says the agency.

To assist family physicians in obtaining information on influenza vaccine, the Academy has posted resources online, including