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Notice to Readers: Supplemental Recommendations About the Timing
of Influenza Vaccination, 2003--04 Season
In response to delays in production and distribution of
influenza vaccine during 2000, the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that first-available supplies of vaccine be administered to persons at increased risk for complications from influenza and to health-care workers. The committee also recommended that
mass vaccination campaigns for the 2000--01 season be delayed until the availability of supply was assured
(1,2). ACIP issued similar recommendations for the 2001--02 influenza season
(3) and has incorporated this prioritization into its
annual influenza recommendations (4).
To assist vaccinators in determining if administration of influenza vaccine should be prioritized because of anticipated delays or shortages, ACIP requested that CDC develop a process to assess the projected vaccine supply in advance of the influenza vaccination season. Each year, this process will be conducted collaboratively by CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the manufacturers who produce influenza vaccine.
On August 11, 2003, CDC determined that vaccine production for the 2003--04 influenza season is
proceeding satisfactorily and that projected production and distribution schedules will allow for sufficient supply of influenza vaccine during October and November. Therefore, influenza vaccination can proceed for all high-risk and healthy
persons, individually and through mass campaigns, as soon as vaccine is available.
Additional information about influenza and influenza vaccination is available from CDC at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu/default.htm.
Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are
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endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content
of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of
the date of publication.
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