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  • Massachusetts: Seasonal flu vaccine delivery delayed

    By Stephen Smith Globe Staff / September 18, 2009

    Shipments of vaccine against seasonal influenza are arriving slower than expected in Massachusetts, a delay that is likely to cause some inoculation drives to be postponed.

    The state Department of Public Health this week issued an alert to doctors, urging them to hold off on large vaccinationcampaigns at public clinics and schools for about a month. As a result, doctors and nurses may wind up dispensing vaccine against both seasonal flu and the swine strain at the same time.
    ?Unfortunately, we have recently learned . . . that the scheduled delivery for the remaining doses of seasonal flu vaccine will not be as accelerated as originally anticipated, due to prioritization of [swine flu] vaccine and other challenges,?? the state told doctors.

    Massachusetts, one of the biggest government buyers of flu vaccine in the nation, had placed orders for 880,000 seasonal flu doses. So far, the state has distributed close to 400,000 doses to doctors and clinics, and 100,000 more are expected in about a week, said John Auerbach, state commissioner of public health.

    Manufacturers expect to produce enough seasonal flu vaccine for ev eryone who wants it - just not as soon as forecast. Health authorities had banked on most of the vaccine being available by the end of this month; now, that?s being pushed back to late October or early November.

    In part, it reflects an unexpected scientific challenge. The seasonal vaccine is brewed to thwart three different strains, and one of them - from the ?B?? family - proved especially difficult to work with.

    In part, it reflects the frenzy of activity at vaccine manufacturers, which , in addition to making seasonal vaccine, are churning out nearly 200 million doses against the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu.

    ?Every flu season has challenges, and this one is not without its challenges,?? said Donna Cary, a spokeswoman for the biggest maker of seasonal vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur. ?We thought we had accommodated for that, but in addition to the low yielding ?B? strain, we?re also producing the pandemic vaccine, and producing both in one year limits our flexibility in scheduling shipments.??

    After swine flu emerged in the United States in late April, federal disease specialists and pharmaceutical companies embarked on an unprecedented sprint to develop a vaccine to slow the spread of the H1N1 virus. At the same time, companies were asked to expedite their production of seasonal shots so that factory lines would be available for swine flu vaccine.

    Shipments of the seasonal vaccine began earlier than ever, and shot kiosks opened earlier than before in drugstores, airports, and neighborhood clinics.

    ?It may not be on every street corner or in every drugstore at this point, and you might have to make a call to find it,?? said Joe Quimby, a spokesman for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ?But all of the 115 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine are on schedule for distribution in the states by mid-November.??

    The seasonal flu typically peaks in January or February, meaning that all the vaccine should be distributed well before then, health authorities said.

    Some doctors are reporting spot shortages of certain vaccine formulations, especially one used in children, said Dr. Susan M. Lett, medical director of the state?s immunization program. In addition to the 880,000 doses purchased by the state for distribution to doctors and clinics, physicians and hospitals independently purchase vaccine.

    Knowing that swine flu vaccine was expected to start rolling into medical offices in mid-October, public health authorities had hoped to dispense as many seasonal doses as possible before then. But the urgency of that dimmed a bit when clinical trials surprisingly showed adults may need only a single dose of the swine flu vaccine, instead of two as originally thought.

    Now, Auerbach said, people may need only a single visit for vaccination against seasonal and swine flu. In most cases, there?s no reason why someone can?t receive both at the same time.

    ?That makes it easier for the clients, and it may make it easier for the local health departments as well,?? Auerbach said. ?The same nurse can be doing twice as much work in the same amount of time.??

    Stephen Smith can be reached at stsmith@globe.com.



  • #2
    Re: Massachusetts: Seasonal flu vaccine delivery delayed

    Delay in flu shots will mean busy fall for health care workers

    By JENNIFER LADE
    jlade@s-t.com
    September 25, 2009 12:00 AM

    Health officials say there will be plenty of flu vaccine available this year, but there's confusion about when it will be available.

    Distribution of seasonal influenza vaccines has been delayed as manufacture of H1N1 vaccine takes priority, forcing many towns to postpone their seasonal flu clinics and prepare for the possibility of administering two vaccines at the same time.

    The state Department of Public Health sent a memo to local boards of health last week informing them that the distribution of seasonal flu vaccine would be delayed because H1N1 vaccine is the priority.

    "What it comes down to, it's the same companies that are producing the seasonal (vaccine) and the H1N1 (vaccine), so it's a lot," said Jennifer Manley, spokeswoman for the DPH.

    About 40 percent of the state-supplied 880,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine have been distributed, and another 100,000 doses are expected to be allocated this week. But the rest of the vaccine will not reach towns until late October or early November, Manley said.

    So while some towns, such as Rochester, have their full supply of vaccine, many more have only a fraction of their allocation and are reluctant to schedule flu clinics, fearing they could run out of vaccine.

    "There's no sense in offering a clinic if you'd have to turn 80 percent of the people away," said Amanda Stone, public health nurse for Marion and Mattapoisett.

    "At this point, we have nothing," Fairhaven Health Agent Patricia Fowle said, referring to flu clinics. She said the town is holding off until it gets a sufficient supply of the seasonal flu vaccine because, otherwise, "people would be angry and people would be anxious."

    The Greater New Bedford Community Health Center had to cancel a flu clinic scheduled for Oct. 12 because it has not received its full allotment of vaccine. However, an Oct. 2 clinic will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at 26 Caroline St.

    The Acushnet Board of Health will hold its clinic Wednesday at the Council on Aging despite the fact that only 280 of its allotted 400 doses have arrived.

    "I anticipate using the whole 280," said Wanda Hamer, senior clerk at the Board of Health.

    Meanwhile, an initial shipment of H1N1 vaccine will occur in mid- to late October, and more vaccine will arrive weekly after that. It is possible some towns will be able to hold one flu clinic to administer the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine at the same time.

    "We were trying to give out the seasonal vaccine before the H1 became available, but it looks like it's going to overlap at this point," said Cindy Champagne, nursing director at the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center. Receiving both shots at once is considered safe, according to the DPH.

    Manley said that, in Massachusetts, cases of seasonal flu do not usually appear until December. Still, she said it is wise to be vaccinated as early in the season as possible.

    For people who do not want to wait for their local flu clinics, private suppliers offer another option.

    Walgreen's has been offering seasonal flu shots from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at all of its locations nationwide since the beginning of September and will continue to do so until Wednesday. Seasonal flu shots also will be offered by appointment through the end of January. The vaccine costs $24.99 and may be covered by insurance plans as well as Medicare Part B, according to the company's Web site.

    Target Pharmacies also are offering the vaccine for those 18 and older every day during pharmacy hours for $24. CVS pharmacies with a MinuteClinic are also offering the vaccine with no appointment necessary, and other CVS locations are offering seasonal flu shots on specific dates, as well, which can be found at www.cvs.com.

    This year, interest is growing when it comes to getting vaccinated, according to Target spokeswoman Michaela Gleason.

    "Target is seeing an increase in the number of guests receiving flu shots this year," she said in an e-mail.

    It is shaping up to be a busy season for everyone involved in flu clinics and vaccinations, Stone said. Having to deal with H1N1 on top of the seasonal flu "stresses the system, for sure," she said. "But at the same time, you have to prioritize, and so other things take a back seat for a temporary amount of time while more important things get accomplished. Right now, the priority is accommodating the flu season, and that includes, in this case, seasonal and H1N1."

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