CDC refines flu vaccine message, works out allocation plan

Physicians who ordered vaccine from Chiron are urged to line up for Aventis' remaining supply and to check out FluMist.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Nov. 1, 2004.

Washington -- As physicians absorbed the news that flu vaccine would be in short supply this year, some fine-tuning of the vaccine delivery system was undertaken by local, state and federal health officials to ensure the smoothest possible journey through the upcoming flu season.

Some health departments made a mandate out of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations regarding who should receive vaccine. Anyone in Washington, D.C., who administers a flu shot to a child or adult not in a high-risk category could be charged with a misdemeanor and fined, according to an emergency rule that was to take effect on Oct. 16.

Immediate court proceedings faced anyone in New Mexico who administers vaccine to someone not in a high-priority category, according to an Oct. 7 public health order.

Meanwhile, Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson urged all state attorneys general to check each report of price gouging involving the flu vaccine and to prosecute all those taking advantage of the vaccine shortage.

The AMA is urging all those distributing flu vaccine to give vaccinations on a priority basis to high risk patients -- in keeping with CDC guidelines.

When news broke on Oct. 5 that drug manufacturer Chiron would be unable to supply any vaccine for this year's flu season, Aventis Pasteur, the remaining manufacturer of injectable vaccine licensed for this country, still had about 22.4 million doses of vaccine on hand.