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CDS
Announces Plan to Help Get Flu Vaccine to Most Needy
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Dr. Julie
Gerberding |
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Oct.
12, 2004 - The first phase of a plan to control the shipment of
available influenza vaccine to help assure those most in need get the
shots, was announced today at a news conference by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the Aventis Pasteur company.
The
plan to allocate influenza vaccine is in response to the recently
announced loss of half of the nation's expected flu vaccine supply for
the 2004-2005 season. The plan, announced by CDC Director Dr. Julie
Gerberding and Aventis Pasteur U.S. President Damian Braga, calls for
CDC to work closely with Aventis to distribute in phases 22.4 million
doses of unshipped vaccine to identified areas of need throughout the
country.
Beginning immediately, about 14.2 million doses of vaccine will be
allocated over the next 6-8 weeks through Aventis Pasteur contracts
directly to high-priority vaccine providers, including hospitals,
long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and private providers who care
for young children.
"This
plan will help ensure that vaccine gets to those people who need it
most," said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. "This is a troubling,
frustrating situation for all of us and we need for all Americans to
pull together in the weeks to come to meet this challenge head on. This
plan is the result of unprecedented collaboration between CDC, Aventis
Pasteur, and state and local health departments across the country. And
we must not forget the other public health heroes on the front lines in
grocery stores, pharmacies, and health clinics working to prioritize
vaccine. "
CDC
will continue to work with Aventis Pasteur and state and local health
departments to identify people, by region, on the vaccination priority
list. The approximately 8.2 million doses remaining after the first
phase is completed will be shipped to other high-need areas.
"Since
Dr. Gerberding contacted us last week, we at Aventis Pasteur have worked
with the CDC around the clock to tackle the complex task of getting
millions of doses of influenza vaccine to thousands of health care
providers around the country. Our goal has been to direct remaining
doses as quickly as possible to those areas where large numbers of
at-risk individuals are in need," said Damian Braga, president, Aventis
Pasteur US. "It is a huge logistical feat and we are proud to have
contributed our knowledge and expertise to this plan."
Last
week CDC announced priority groups for vaccination with inactivated
influenza vaccine for the 2004-2005 influenza season:
-- all
children aged 6-23 months,
--
adults aged 65 years and older,
--
persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions,
-- all
women who will be pregnant during influenza season,
--
residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities,
--
children 6 months-18 years of age on chronic aspirin therapy,
--
health-care workers with direct patient care, and
--
out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less
than6 months.
Influenza season typically peaks in the United States between December
and March. Because each season is unpredictable, it's not known how
severe the 2004-2005 season might be, according to the CDC.
The CDC
offered this advice: "Although vaccination is the best protection
against influenza, everyone can take practical steps to help prevent
spread of flu, such as avoiding close contact with people who are sick
and keeping your distance from others if you're sick; when possible,
staying home from work, school, and errands when you are sick; covering
your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and cleaning your hands
often."
For
more information about the flu and this year's recommendations, visit
the CDC Website:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu.
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
