HEALTH

Insurers to cover nasal flu vaccine

An early, brutal flu season and a demand for injectable vaccine that exceeded supply has convinced some insurers to cover the more expensive FluMist.

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. Jan. 12, 2004.

Numerous insurance companies announced last month they would now cover the nasal flu vaccine, at least for this season, because there is not enough of the injectable vaccine to meet the increased demand. Also, the two-tiered priority system that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices suspended in August 2003 has been reinstated in an attempt to get what's left of the supply of the shots to those who need it most.

"We're [covering FluMist] in hopes every one of our members who wants a flu immunization will be able to get one," said Charles Fazio, MD, medical director of Medica, a health plan based in Minnetonka, Minn. "We also want to help ensure that the remaining doses of the injectable vaccine get to the people who need it most."

FluMist was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2003. Many insurers initially declined reimbursement because it costs significantly more than the shot. The nasal vaccine spray is only approved for healthy adults and children.

Physicians applauded the move for broadening access to the flu vaccine.

"I'm delighted," said William Schaffner, MD, a board member of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn. "It's very good public health. Many of us hope that next year the price will come down and that more insurance companies will maintain this coverage next year."

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