Information on the 2010-2011 Influenza Season

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

August 30, 2010
Dear Influenza Vaccine Provider:
This letter is intended to encourage you to continue to vaccinate against influenza and to provide you with information on the 2010-2011 influenza season.
For those providers who have previously administered influenza vaccinations to your patients, we hope that you will strongly consider continuing in your role as a vaccine provider. You should review your influenza vaccine purchasing options and assess the needs of your
practice or organization. For more information on distributors and influenza vaccine availability, please visit the following websites:
 New York State Vaccines for Children Program
http://www.nyhealth.gov/prevention/immunization/vaccines_for_children.htm
 Influenza Vaccine Distributor Information
http://www.flusupplynews.com/resources.cfm
 Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System (IVATS)
http://www.preventinfluenza.org/ivats/ivats_healthcare.asp.
On February 24, 2010 vaccine experts voted that everyone 6 months and older should get flu vaccine each year starting with the 2010-2011 influenza season. The Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for “universal” flu vaccination in the U.S. to expand protection against the flu to more people. Please also note that the following virus strains will be contained in the trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine for the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza:

• A/California/7/09 (H1N1)-like virus (pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus)

• A/Perth /16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus

• B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus

A higher dose formulation of an inactivated seasonal influenza vaccine (Fluzone High- Dose, manufactured by sanofi pasteur, licensed by FDA on December 23, 2009) for use in people age 65 years and older will also be available in the 2010-11 influenza season. Fluzone High-Dose contains four times the amount of influenza antigen compared to other inactivated seasonal influenza vaccines. Studies are underway to assess the relative effectiveness of Fluzone High-Dose compared to standard dose inactivated influenza vaccine, but results from those studies will not be available before the 2010-11 influenza season. The ACIP has not expressed a preference for Fluzone High-Dose or any other licensed inactivated influenza vaccine for use in people age 65 and older.
All children 6 months through 8 years of age are recommended to receive 2 doses of 2010-11 flu vaccine unless they meet the following conditions (in which case, only 1 dose of influenza vaccine is needed):

• at least 1 dose of 2009 H1N1 vaccine last flu season, and at least 1 dose of seasonal vaccine prior to the 2009-2010 flu season

OR

• at least 1 dose of 2009 H1N1 vaccine last flu season, and 2 doses of seasonal flu vaccine last flu season

If possible, the first dose should be given as soon as vaccine becomes available. The second dose should be given 28 or more days after the first dose. We strongly encourage you to continue in your vaccination efforts against influenza and plan for this upcoming influenza season. Should you need further assistance, please call the NYSDOH Bureau of Immunization at 518-473-4437.
Sincerely,
Guthrie S. Birkhead, M.D., M.P.H.
Deputy Commissioner
Office of Public Health

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