Dear Participating Office,
Sanofi Pasteur is making all reasonable efforts to deliver both Fluzone vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine as quickly as possible, but this effort continues to present production and shipping challenges. They are working at maximum capacity to produce a total of 125 million doses of influenza vaccine in the time it typically takes to produce 50 million doses of Fluzone vaccine.
Unfortunately, the unprecedented challenge of producing 2 influenza vaccines in 1 year has led to multiple changes in the Fluzone vaccine shipping plan that have impacted you. In an effort to prevent further miscommunication of ship dates, sanofi pasteur is implementing a new approach to communicating customers’ shipping schedule.
Instead of providing a window of anticipated ship dates, you will only receive specific shipping information after your Fluzone vaccine doses are available and ready to ship. Once your doses are available, you will receive a shipping alert from sanofi pasteur via fax or e-mail, and your doses will be delivered within the following week. You should expect to receive at least 1 shipment between October 5 and November 6, and the balance of your Fluzone vaccine reservation by the end of November
Sanofi Pasteur has informed us that they remain committed to delivering every customer’s full reservation of Fluzone vaccine and to meeting their market commitment of over 50 million doses of Fluzone vaccine.
Early in the season, we shared a goal to immunize early and complete seasonal immunization efforts before H1N1 immunization began. However, it is now clear that seasonal immunization efforts will need to continue even after H1N1 immunization begins. This will help ensure that your patients receive the best protection from both seasonal and H1N1 influenza this year.
Pediatric Federation would like to remind our offices of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations1,2 to :
1 Continue to vaccinate patients with seasonal influenza vaccine during routine visits and in scheduled clinics as supply allows
2 Offer seasonal influenza immunization throughout the full season, as influenza disease typically peaks in February
3 Plan for simultaneous administration of both seasonal and H1N1 vaccine once the H1N1 vaccine becomes available
According to the ACIP, injectable formulations of H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccines can be administered at the same time in different anatomical locations.
Sincerely,
Kathy Chebib, Vaccine Program Manager
References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2009. MMWR. 2009;58(RR-8):1-52. 2. CDC. Use of Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2009. MMWR. 2009;58(RR-10):1-12.
