Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: October 5, 2004
CONTACT: Helen Drew (office 222-1016, cell 623-0397)

Influenza Vaccine Shortage

WHAT HAPPPENED
On October 5, 2004, CDC was notified by Chiron Corporation that none of its influenza vaccine (Fluvirin®) would be available for distribution in the United States for the 2004-05 influenza season.

The company indicated that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom, where Chiron’s Fluvirin vaccine is produced, has suspended the company’s license to manufacture Fluvirin vaccine in its Liverpool facility for 3 months, preventing any release of this vaccine for this influenza season. This will reduce by approximately one half the expected supply of trivalent inactivated vaccine (flu shot) available in the United States for the 2004-05 influenza season.

The remaining supply of influenza vaccine, about 54 million doses of Fluzone®, manufactured Aventis Pasteur, is expected to be available in the United States this season.

Of these doses, approximately 30 million doses already have been distributed by Aventis Pasteur.

In addition, approximately 1.1 million doses of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV/Flumist®) manufactured by MedImmnune will be available this season. About 2 million does from the Strategic National Stockpile will be available later in the season.

This supply will not cover everyone at risk.

IN RHODE ISLAND
The Rhode Island Department of Health is working to assure an adequate supply of influenza vaccine for the most high-risk individuals in the state. The Department is assessing vaccine supplies in the state and is working on a plan to purchase, allocate, distribute and track available vaccine.

At the suggestion of CDC, we are asking Rhode Islanders who are not included in one of the priority groups to forego or defer vaccinations.

WHO ARE THE PRIORITY GROUPS?
Priority groups for vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine are about the same as last year:

• all children aged 6–23 months,
• adults 65 or older years,
• persons aged between the ages of 2–64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions,
• all women who will be pregnant during influenza season,
• residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities,
• children 6 months-18 years of age on chronic aspirin therapy,
• health-care workers with direct patient care, and
• out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged under 6 months.

Persons in priority groups identified above should be encouraged to search locally for vaccine if their usual health-care provider does not have vaccine available.

Are there any others who should be vaccinated?

• Health-care workers (except those who care for severely immunocompromised patients in special care units) and persons caring for children aged younger than 6 months are encouraged to be vaccinated with intranasally administered live, attenuated influenza vaccine.
• Many children younger than 9 years require two doses of vaccine if they have not previously been vaccinated. All children at high risk of complications from influenza, including those aged 6–23 months, who present for vaccination should be vaccinated with a first or second dose, depending on vaccination status. However, CDC suggests that doses should not be held in reserve to ensure that two doses will be available. Rather, available vaccine should be used to vaccinate children in priority groups on a first come first served basis.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO SHOULD NOT GET THE FLU VACCINE?
People in the following groups should not get flu vaccine before talking with their doctor:

• People who have a severe allergy (i.e. anaphylactic allergic reaction) to hens' eggs
• It is prudent to avoid vaccination in people who previously developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) the 6 weeks after getting a flu shot.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO AVOID THE FLU?

Practice basic hygiene by sneezing and coughing into tissues and washing your hands frequently. Stay at home and call you health care provider if you think you have the flu.

Flu is spread through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs and infected droplets land on another person’s mouth, eyes, or nose. People who are infected but do not feel sick can transmit the virus to others.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE FLU?

The symptoms of influenza may include quick onset of high fever, chills, dry cough, headache, runny nose, sore throat, fatigue and general muscle achiness. These symptoms usually last from two to five days, unless complications develop.

For general questions, the public should call the RI Department of Health Family Health Information Line at 1-800-942-7434 or consult the Department of Health Influenza webpage.