National Vaccine Advisory Committee addresses H1N1 issues
The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) of the U.S. Departmentof Health and Human Services (HHS) met on Aug. 24to discuss issues regarding the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus vaccine. Following is a summary of informationrelevant to pediatricians and other vaccine providers.
The federal government will be providing the novel influenzaA (H1N1) vaccine to the states. Providersshould place orders with their health department. Orders will be processed by the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC) and will beshipped directly to the provider. At this time, it is unknownhow much vaccine will be distributed to providers.The National Association of County and CityHealth Officials has not received funding for seasonal or H1N1vaccine, and health departments do not anticipatebeing able to distribute vaccine until mid-Octoberor later.
The CDC provided states with $440 million for supplies(e.g.,needles, syringes, alcohol swabs,sharpsreceptacles, vaccine record cards) to run community vaccination clinics.
HHS hopes to releasea vaccine safety manual by mid-September.The manual will detail the system that willbe used to monitorfor vaccine adverse events. Vaccine registrydata from some states as well as privateplan data from some larger plans (estimated50 million coveredlives) will be used to track adverse events.The CDC is conducting vaccine trialsin pregnant women. NVACis recommending thatcommunication be coordinatedso the government can respond to adverseevents in an organized fashion especiallyregarding pregnantwomen.
Medical advisers for Medicaid and Medicare have beencontactedto ensure payments for the vaccineare madeto providers. Medicare will cover the vaccine withno co-pay or deductible. Details are stillbeing workedout on how to cover Medicaidclaims underTitle XIX. Contrary to some reports, Medicare andMedicaid will cover more than one flu vaccinein a12-month period.
Flu.gov is the clearinghouse for informationon seasonal andnovel influenza A (H1N1)for HHS. Publicservice announcements with Sesame Street charactersare going to be retooled to include informationaboutthe novel influenza A (H1N1) virus.Forty-onemessages have been taped by members of Congress fortheir districts. Messages include educationon hygiene,the importance of getting a flushot andinformation on the H1N1 vaccine.
