Still Time, Reason to Immunize Against Influenza This Season

Not sure what to do with those last few vials of seasonal influenza vaccine still sitting in the refrigerator at your office practice or clinic? In many cases, there's still time -- and ample reason -- to immunize patients who've not yet received the vaccine this season.

And yes, you can expect to be paid for your trouble.

"There is no national seasonal time limit -- such as March 1 -- on coverage of the influenza vaccine and its administration," said Bill Larson, a health insurance policy specialist in CMS' Office of Clinical Standards and Quality. Larson was responding to a query from Jonathan Temte, M.D., Ph.D., of Madison, Wis., regarding any seasonal limitations on Medicare coverage of influenza immunization during the 2006-07 season. Temte is an AAFP liaison to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

"The national coverage policy is quite broad," Larson explained, "and provides that the vaccine and its administration are covered when furnished in compliance with applicable state law."

CMS policy further indicates that "typically this service is administered once a year in the fall or winter," said Larson, adding that "once a year should be read to mean once a flu season."

Contrary to popular belief, the 2006-07 influenza season -- although it is winding down -- is not yet over, say federal health authorities: While data for week 10 (the week ending March 10) from U.S. World Health Organization and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System collaborating labs showed influenza activity was on the decline for the fourth consecutive week, 19 states still were reporting widespread influenza activity. Twenty-three states reported regional activity, and several reported continuing sporadic or local activity.

It's worth noting, too, that as of March 12, the Immunization Action Coalition still was urging stakeholders to "continue administering influenza vaccine during the early months of 2007." Electronic correspondence from the coalition included an admonition to visit the National Influenza Vaccine Summit Web site and the CDC's Influenza Web section "to find the information you need to keep vaccinating. Both are continually updated with the latest resources," said the coalition materials.

Finally, a March 20 Associated Press report that has appeared in a number of media outlets discusses the unfortunate fact that nearly 10 million of this influenza season's record-setting 110 million vaccine doses remain undistributed and are scheduled to "expire" as of June 30, per FDA rules. (The agency ceases conducting potency assays on the vaccine after that date and so will no longer vouch for its continued effectiveness.) While this situation affects manufacturers, primarily, vaccine providers will no doubt want to ensure they aren't left with extraneous doses. All the more reason, surely, to check and recheck those patient immunization registries!