May 18, 2001
CDC Letter to Health Care Providers about Influenza Vaccine

CDC has written a letter to health care providers to encourage them to order influenza vaccine early this year, and to develop contingency plans to ensure that high risk individuals are given priority status in the event of a delay in distribution or shortage of influenza vaccine this fall.

To view the full text of the letter from CDC, click here.

To view or download an Adobe Acrobat version of the letter,
click here.

To view the recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on "Prevention and Control of Influenza" from the April 20, 2001 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, in Adobe Acrobat format, click here.

The Government Accounting Office has issued a report on the influenza vaccine delay from the 2000-2001 flu season. The report is titled: "Flu Vaccine: Supply Problems Heighten Need to Ensure Access for High-Risk People". To download this report in Adobe Acrobat format,
click here.

100% Immunization Campaign Launches "Partner Program"

The 100% Immunization Campaign has launched a program to recognize nursing facilities that achieve success in immunizing residents. The Partner Program provides a wall certificate, sticker for the front door, listing on the 100% Immunization Campaign web site, and a press release to those facilities that achieve immunization of 80% of residents with both pneumococcal and influenza vaccines. Click the Partner Program link above for more details and an application form.

October 2000 - Influenza vaccine delay leads to temporary shortages

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that the supply of influenza vaccine for 2000-01 flu season will likely be delayed due to manufacturing difficulties with the strains of flu virus needed for the influenza vaccine for this season. In addition, it is possible that an overall reduction of total supply of influenza vaccine will occur this year. For more details, check the "Influenza Vaccine Supply Status" page on this web site.

Institute of Medicine Releases Report on Immunization Financing

The National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine has issued a report, "Calling the Shots: Immunization Finance Policies and Practices". A summary of this report  is available on the IoM web site.

"Calling the Shots" examines the basic strategies that finance the national immunization system in the current health care climate. It is a comprehensive volume, rich with data and highlighted examples, that explores:

• The evolution of the system in light of changing U.S. demographics, development of new vaccines, and other factors
• The effectiveness of public health and health insurance strategies, with special emphasis on the performance of the "Section 317" program
• The condition of the infrastructure for control and prevention of infectious disease, surveillance of vaccines rates and safety, and efforts to sustain high coverage

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