Flu shot shortage

On Oct. 5, 2004, Chiron Corporation notified the United States Centers for Disease control that none of its Fluvirin influenza vaccine would be available for distribution in the U.S. during the 2004-2005 influenza season. This means the U.S. will receive about half of the expected supply of trivalent influenza vaccine for this flu season.

Due to the urgent situation, the Centers for Disease Control has issued interim recommendations for the 2004-2005 flu season. These recommendations take precedence over all previous recommendations.

People in these priority groups should receive the influenza vaccination:

all children aged 6 to 23 months

adults who are 65 years or older

persons, ages 2 to 64, with underlying chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or HIV/AIDS

women who will be pregnant during the influenza season

residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities

children aged 6 months to 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy

health care workers involved in direct patient care

out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of infants, 6 months and younger

Persons who are not in the above listed priority groups should forego or defer vaccination for the 2004-2005 flu season

Source: Minnesota Department of Health; Kathryn Schultz, PharmD, clinical pharmacy manager, Allina Medical Clinic; United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Copyright 2004, IMC Management Services, L.P.
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