Timeline:

This will help you see what actions are being taken to deliver vaccine. The pandemic, round two, already is under way for the fall and winter season. The federal government has purchased the vaccine. You only should be asked to pay, if anything, a modest administration fee for giving you the shot.

• September: In many places, the seasonal flu shot is available with more being shipped to doctors for October 1 delivery. You cannot take both flu shots at the same time. The CDC recommends that people get this one as soon as possible.

• September: This week, the CDC reported increased influenza activity in 26 states. The Southeast is the most active region. 99% of the samples tested were sub-typed as H1N1, which is the pandemic virus.

• October 4:  Beginning of the “official” influenza season as we have known it in years past, the CDC said earlier this week.

• October 6: First doses will arrive at doctors’ offices but almost all will be the nasal spray form—-not recommended for infants to age two, adults 49 and above, pregnant women and people with other health problems.

• October 15: 14 million doses of both forms are expected to be at clinics, the story says—90,000 of them. This is where the little bumps will happen. Logistically, this is challenging.

New York Times

“The opening of the vaccination campaign for swine flu is “going to be a little bumpy,” the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted Friday as he gave new details about how the vaccine would be distributed.

“The first doses should reach doctors by Oct. 6, said the director, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, but almost all will be the FluMist nasal spray version, which has some limits on who may use it. By mid-October, 40 million doses of both the nasal spray and injectable versions should be out. (Emphasis added)

“The FluMist version is not recommended for infants under 2, adults over 49, pregnant women or anyone with a range of underlying health problems. But it is easy to use, and some pediatricians prefer it because many children fear needles. (Emphasis added)

“With vaccines going from 5 manufacturers to 90,000 distribution points, Dr. Frieden said he expected shortages in some places and oversupply in others. Distribution will be different from that of seasonal flu vaccine, which doctors buy on their own. All the swine flu vaccine has been ordered and paid for by the federal government, which is also paying for its distribution and providing syringes and other items with it.”

Source: New York Times, September 26, 2009

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 25, 2009