CDC drops high-risk priorities for flu shots

Doctors hope the move will mean an increase in vaccination rates, but experts warn that unless production technology improves, shortages and delays could happen again.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. Sept. 15, 2003.

The flu likely will cause all the usual problems in upcoming months, but indications are that flu vaccine supplies, at least, will not.

Flu vaccine production has gone so well that the three manufacturers started shipping it out in July and August, as much as a month earlier than expected. Also in August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices announced that the two-tiered vaccination system will be suspended. This approach was created for shortage years to focus early vaccine supplies on health care workers and those at high risk for flu-related complications and defer others until November.

"The supply of influenza vaccine makes it possible for the CDC to drop the tiered immunization schedule this season and will allow everyone to begin to seek influenza vaccination in October," said Phil Hosbach, vice president, new products and immunization policy at Aventis Pasteur, one of three vaccine suppliers.

Doctors cheered.

"I'm tickled to death," said Mark Ivey Jr., MD, a family physician in Payson, Ariz. "For us to be able to have an adequate supply and give it to all the patients is a tremendous advancement."

The vaccine supply was plentiful and stable last year with more than 95 million doses manufactured. But demand was flat. This year, though, the CDC is expecting more than 85 million doses, including 4 million doses of FluMist, a nasal version manufactured by MedImmune Inc. and co-marketed by Wyeth Vaccines, which left the injectible market last year.