Flu Vaccine Supplies Expected To Meet Demand

DANBURY — In August, flu vaccine manufacturers provided the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) with updated projections and expect that 79.1 million doses of influenza vaccine will be distributed this season. By the end of October, 47.8 million doses should be available for delivery and 31.3 million doses are projected to be available in November and December.

Delays this year are not expected to be as great as those experienced last season. Nevertheless, officials at the FDA and CDC stress that these projections from manufacturers could change as the season progresses.

“There is no need to panic,” says Matthew Miller, MD, a pulmonologist and vice president of Medical Affairs at Danbury Hospital. “There will be enough of the vaccine available this year. Patients at the highest risk will receive the vaccine first when it arrives in late October, and then anyone else who would like to have the vaccine can get one during the second wave in November and December. Perfect timing for flu season.”

The CDC recommends vaccination for the following groups of persons who are at increased risk for complications from influenza: persons aged 65 years or older; residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions; adults and children who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including asthma; adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications); children and teenagers (aged 6 months to 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for developing Reye syndrome after influenza; women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season, and persons aged 50 to 64 years. Vaccination of this group is recommended because a large proportion of persons in this age group have at least one chronic medical problem that puts them at high risk for complications from influenza.