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CDC Interim Influenza Vaccination Recommendations — 2004–05 Influenza Season
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 action 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.
Because of this urgent situation, CDC, in coordination with its Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), is issuing interim recommendations for influenza vaccination during the 2004–05 season. These interim recommendations were formally recommended by ACIP on October 5, 2004, and take precedence over earlier recommendations.
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DoD Announces Anthrax & Smallpox Vaccination Program Expansion
William Winkenwerder, Jr., MD, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, announced Tuesday, June 30th that the anthrax and smallpox vaccination programs would be expanded to include selected units within the U. S. Pacific Command and additional personnel now serving with the U.S. Central Command. read more...
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| Spokesperson's Training for Military Bio-Defense Vaccines |
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Register to become the local subject matter expert on the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP) and the Smallpox Vaccination Program (SVP). Learn about program implementation and administration within your unit, electronic tracking systems, adverse events and risk communication as it applies to these programs.
Regional training locations for the next quarter include; PACOM, EUCOM & NCR.
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| Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Shortage Resolved |
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Since February 2004, CDC has recommended that 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), marketed as Prevnar® and manufactured by Wyeth Vaccines (Collegeville, Pennsylvania), be administered to healthy children on an abbreviated schedule to conserve the limited supply. Production capacity has been increased, and supply is now sufficient to meet the national demand for vaccine on the routine, 4-dose schedule. Effective immediately, CDC, in consultation with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends that providers resume administration of PCV7 according to the routine schedule.
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| HHS Issues National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan |
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HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today unveiled the department's draft Pandemic Influenza Response and Preparedness Plan, which outlines a coordinated national strategy to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic. The draft plan is available for public comment for 60 days.
In particular, the plan provides guidance to national, state, and local policy makers and health departments for public health preparation and response in the event of pandemic influenza outbreak.
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| FDA Publishes Anthrax Vaccine Final Rule & Final Order |
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Biological Products; Bacterial Vaccines and Toxoids; Implementation of Efficacy Review
Federal Register 2004;69:255-67
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The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each fall
Epidemics of influenza typically occur during the winter months and have been responsible for an average of
approximately 36,000 deaths/year in the United States during 1990–1999. Influenza viruses also can cause
pandemics, during which rates of illness and death from influenza-related complications can increase dramatically
worldwide. Influenza viruses cause disease among all age groups.
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Volunteers Needed at Ft. Campbell and Fort Carson to Support HHS Program
The Departments of Defense (DoD) and Health and Human Services (DHHS) today announced that the military will
support a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) effort to create a new medication against anthrax.
This new medication, anthrax immune globulin (AIG) is an antibody-based medication and could become a critical
medical countermeasure for the Nation in case of an anthrax attack.
Anthrax-vaccinated military personnel at Army installations will be invited to donate some of their blood
plasma to support this effort to create and evaluate AIG. The first installation is Fort Campbell, KY. Fort
Carson was added on August 26, 2004
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