# 3962
In the face of a continued short supply of pandemic H1N1 vaccine – at least in the near term – the CDC has once again emphasized the need for local and state health departments to target the supply of vaccine currently available to those at highest risk from the pandemic virus.
Recent high profile stories about non-high-risk groups and individuals possibly getting the vaccine (both here in the US and elsewhere) – before it has been offered to those most at-risk - has no doubt raised concerns at the Federal level.
Even though the CDC doesn’t have direct control over who the vaccine goes to, they obviously understand that even the appearance of impropriety or unfairness in the program would reflect badly on public health at all levels.
Today Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the CDC, sent this letter out to State and Local health Departments around the nation.
November 5, 2009
Dear State/Local Health Officer:
Today we have 35.6 million doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine allocated for ordering, with more coming every day. As you know all too well, at present, demand for the vaccine in your communities still exceeds the supply we have received from manufacturers. That means it is more important than ever to focus on ensuring equitable access to the vaccine for the priority groups identified by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices: pregnant women, caretakers of infants less than 6 months of age, health care workers, children and adults with health conditions such as asthma or diabetes, and people under the age of 25. These are the people who are most vulnerable to 2009 H1N1 influenza, and it’s our job to do everything we can to keep them safe this flu season.
I know you have been working hard to distribute vaccine to the people who need it most. You are on the front lines of the fight, and no one knows better than you how to reach people in your communities. I especially appreciate the many innovative ways you’ve found to reach them, including school-located vaccine clinics, special clinics for pregnant women, outreach to children with special needs, and making vaccine available to community- and faith-based organizations serving these high-risk populations.
The goal of the H1N1 vaccination program is to protect our population – focusing first on these high-risk groups and ensuring equitable access to the vaccine. While vaccine supplies are still limited, any vaccine distribution decisions that appear to direct vaccine to people outside the identified priority groups have the potential to undermine the credibility of the program.
It is important to make it clear to the public that we are all committed to the science-based vaccination recommendations established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
This may include making clear to the public as well as health care providers how the vaccine available to you is being targeted, and the basis for targeting. CDC expects all grantees to ensure that all vaccinators chosen by state and local health departments adhere to those recommendations. Toward that end, and in light of changing projections of vaccine availability, I ask each of you to review your plans immediately and work to ensure that the maximum number of doses is delivered to those at greatest risk as rapidly as possible.
I know how difficult your jobs are; we are ready and willing to help you any way we can.
Sincerely,
Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.
Director, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and
Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry
