Rhode Island to distribute adult flu vaccine free to doctors

The state's new approach is one of many legislative fixes proposed to address challenges in the nation's influenza vaccine program.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. May 21, 2007.

Washington -- Rhode Island legislators took up the cause of adult influenza immunization, and state physicians are optimistic that the resulting program will help smooth some of the rough spots in the ordering and delivery of vaccine.

A new law, signed in July 2006, requires the state health department to purchase vaccine and distribute it for free to physicians who enroll in the Immunize For Life program. Voluntary registration has just started, and the program will begin in earnest with the coming flu season.

Rhode Island is the first state to try this approach, said Annemarie Beardsworth, the program coordinator. "Other states are watching what we are doing."

It's one of many efforts proposed by state legislators around the country to help fix the nation's creaky flu vaccine system. Whether such measures will result in improvements is a matter of debate.

The various approaches were discussed at the National Influenza Vaccine Summit, which is co-sponsored by the AMA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was held April 18-20 in Atlanta. The summit brings together many stakeholders in the flu vaccine world -- from manufacturers and distributors to physician groups and payers.

More than 90 legislative measures have been introduced or passed recently in 35 states, said Andrew E. Van Ostrand, vice president of policy and research at the Health Industry Distributors Assn., a trade association based in Alexandria, Va.