October 21, 2005
To: All Vaccines for Children (VFC) Providers
Re: State-Supplied Influenza Vaccine for Children (Update 2005-3)

Fluzone ®

The Rhode Island Department of Health has recently received another delivery of Fluzone® and Fluzone-PF® flu vaccine. This delivery brings us to approximately 70% and 50% respectively of our total allocation for the year. We will make this vaccine available for pickup at the Rhode Island Department of Health or your regular pharmacy depot beginning on Monday, October 24, 2005. Your allocation will be based on the amount of vaccine you had requested in response to the Influenza Vaccine Survey: 2005-2006 Flu Season (1 st survey sent June 15, 2005; 2 nd survey sent September 1, 2005). Combined with the vaccine already allocated to you, this allocation should fulfill approximately 70% of your Fluzone® and 50% of your Fluzone-PF® requests.

As the Rhode Island Department of Health receives more flu vaccine, we will send out additional Vaccine Updates about distribution and allocate the vaccine according to the amount you requested in the Influenza Vaccine Survey. Please do not fax any requests for Flu vaccine, as they will not be responded to.

In order to pick up vaccine, you must bring a photo identification (driver’s license) and an appropriately sized cooler (with ice packs) to protect the cold chain. With your allocation of flu vaccine, you will also receive a handout “ Questions & Answers for Physicians about Thimerosal in Vaccines.”

Effective October 24, 2005 you may start administering flu vaccine to any individual (under the age of 19).

Menactra ®

We have also received a small allocation of Menactra® meningococcal conjugate vaccine and are once again filling requests for that vaccine. Supplies of Menactra ® remain limited. As a result, the ACIP recommendations for routine vaccination will need to be phased in gradually. Vaccination is recommended for:

• Children at the pre-adolescent visit (11-12 years of age);
• Adolescents at high school entry (15 years of age);
• All college freshmen living in dormitories.

For questions regarding influenza or Menactra® vaccine orders, please contact Mark Francesconi, Vaccine Manager, at 222-5988 or markf@doh.state.ri.us.

For information about dosage and administration of influenza vaccines, refer to the vaccine package insert and the ACIP statement: Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) MMWR July 29, 2005 / 54(RR08);1-40.