Seasonal Flu Vaccine

Access to seasonal flu vaccine is critical to the public health. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that seasonal influenza is responsible for 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States. On February 24, 2010, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expanded the recommendation for annual influenza vaccination to include all people ages 6-months and older.  The “universal” recommendation will take effect in the 2010-2011 influenza season, and seeks to remove barriers to influenza immunization across the entire population.

Flu vaccine manufacturers are expected to produce over 170 million vaccines for the 2010-2011 influenza season, a record amount that will protect patients from the H1N1 flu as well as traditional seasonal influenza.  Distributors play a critical role in the complex flu vaccine delivery process, and are uniquely equipped to service physician offices as well as hospitals, nursing home, and other provider sites.

HIDA works with Congress, federal officials, state agencies and legislatures, and industry partners to protect and improve the flu vaccine supply chain. HIDA also works with the Flu Vaccine Distribution Education Initiative, a stakeholder group that utilizes a multi-pronged communications effort to engage and educate physicians, government health officials, legislators, and the general public on seasonal influenza issues.

For more information contact Aaron Frazier, Government Affairs Senior Manager, at (703) 838-6127 or frazier@hida.org.