Surgeon General Issues Flu Vaccine Priorities

      - People at high risk from flu and pneumonia complications should be given top priority for vaccines because of an expected delay in their shipment before flu season, federal health officials and health experts told the medical community today.

      Those in better health should plan on getting the vaccine in December, when the supply will be greater.

      "We are here today to ask the nation''s physicians, nurses and other health care providers to first immunize those most at risk, the elderly and the chronically ill, for influenza and at the same time to ensure these groups are vaccinated against pneumococcal disease," says U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher.

      Satcher spoke at a press conference in Washington to publicize this issue. He was joined by representatives of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control, among other medical groups.

      Although delays in flu vaccine shipments have occurred before, experts say this year is one of the worst. The A Panama strain of flu used in the vaccine was particularly difficult to grow.

      Who Should Get Priority

      Officials say the following people should be vaccinated first:

      Persons aged 65 and older

      Residents of nursing homes and other facilities housing persons with chronic illnesses

      Children and adults with chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders, including asthma

      Children and adults who have chronic metabolic diseases, including diabetes, renal problems, hemoglobin disorders and a suppressed immune system

      Persons aged six months to 18 years who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

      Pregnant women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season.

      The government also is recommending all mass flu vaccination campaigns be postponed until December.

      Flu Usually Hits in January

      In 14 of the 18 past flu seasons, the virus activity peaked during January through March, according to Dr. Keiji Fukuda, CDC epidemiology section chief. If the flu strikes earlier than expected, flu vaccine manufacturer Aventis Pasteur, of Swiftwater, Pa., is setting aside some shots for priority shipment areas that have been hit.

      To help reach those at highest risk now, the CDC is asking companies with early vaccine shipments to lend them to needier nursing homes or high-risk clinics, which would repay the loan when their own shots arrive. The Atlanta-based agency itself plans to lend doses to needier neighbors after vaccinating its own high-risk employees in November.

      The CDC also has ordered 9 million vaccine doses set aside in December just for high-risk patients, as a "safety cushion" in case healthier persons squeeze out the neediest.

      Pneumococcus Vaccine Also Recommended

      This year the CDC additionally is recommending that people in these high-risk groups get vaccinations against pneumococcal disease at the time they get the flu vaccinations. Having the vaccine for influenza does not protect against pneumococcus and pneumonia, which can be side-effects in a high-risk person.

      "Medicare beneficiaries are in the high-risk group who need priority vaccination," says Dr. Jeffrey Kang, director of the office of clinical standards and quality at the Health Care Financing Administration, which administers Medicare. "They should not be discouraged by reports of vaccine delays and should get their vaccinations now. But they also should remember, it''s better to get their shots late than not to get them at all."

      Medicare Part B reimburses influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations.

      Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs. It is characterized by the abrupt onset of high fever, chills, a dry cough, headache, runny nose, sore throat and joint pain. Vaccines can reduce hospitalizations by about 70 percent and death by about 85 percent in the free-living elderly.

      Among elderly nursing home residents, flu vaccine can reduce the risk of hospitalization by 50 percent.

      Influenza annually results in an average of more than 20,000 deaths nationwide and 110,000 hospitalizations. Pneumococcal disease claims 12,000 lives each year.

 

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