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Date: October 4, 2007
To: Vaccine Providers
From: Patricia Raymond RN,MPH
Re: Influenza Vaccine Update
Influenza vaccine orders began shipping this week to pediatric and adult providers. Please adhere to Rhode Island’s statewide start-date (October 17th) when planning your vaccination efforts and clinics. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) emphasizes six major points for the 2007-2008-influenza season:
- The importance of administering 2 doses of vaccine to all children aged 6 months-8 years if they have not been vaccinated previously.
- New recommendation: Children aged 6 months-8 years who have previously only received 1 dose of influenza vaccine should receive 2 doses the following year. See algorithm for dosing: www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/
pdf/flu_vaccine_algorithm.pdf.
- All persons, including school-aged children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others, should be vaccinated.
- Providers should offer influenza vaccine and schedule immunization clinics throughout the influenza season (Oct-March).
- Healthcare administrators should consider the level of vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel (HCP) to be one measure of a patient safety quality program and implement policies to encourage HCP vaccination.
- The 2007-2008 trivalent vaccine strains are A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like (new for this season), A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like, and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like viruses.
For more comprehensive influenza vaccination information for health professionals visit: www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/index.htm.
CDC’s 2007-2008 Influenza Vaccine Dosage Chart is available at:
www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/pdf/dosagechart.pdf.
New information about FluMist (live attenuated influenza vaccine-LAIV)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved FluMist for use in healthy children ages 2-4 years (i.e. 24-59 months). CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is expected to release their formal recommendations for use in this age group on or soon after October 24, 2007. Guidelines for use of state-supplied FluMist in the 2-4 year age group will be communicated to you at that time. For now, continue to use FluMist for healthy people ages 5-49.
Additional changes for use of FluMist include:
- A reduction in the volume of vaccine used to 0.1 mL per nostril.
- A reduction in the minimum dose spacing to 4 weeks for children who require 2 doses (same as injectable flu vaccine).
- A change in the temperature requirements: do not freeze. Store in refrigerator at 35--46°F (2--8°C).
Pediatric Flu Vaccine Orders
For questions about your pediatric flu vaccine order, contact Mark Francesconi at 222-5988 or mark.francesconi@health.ri.gov.
Adult (Immunize for Life) Flu Vaccine Orders
For questions about your adult flu vaccine order, contact the Wellness Company at 490-0942.
Note: If you do not receive your adult flu vaccine order this week, you will receive your order by Friday, October 12, 2007.
All forms and other information about the Immunize for Life adult influenza program are posted on our website at: www.health.ri.gov/immunization/immunizeforlife.php. For information about flu clinics in Rhode Island visit: www.osaicri.org/ or call 1-800-555-7858.
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