How Public Health Centers in Suffolk County, NY Strove to

Leave No Vaccine Behind

Mary Beth Koslap-Petraco, MS, CPNP

Brian L. Harper, MD, MPH

Suffolk County Department of Health Services

Background

• Supply issues have affected influenza immunization delivery

• Providers vaccinated from September through November

• Many high-risk individuals were vaccinated

• Many went without vaccination– Vaccine unavailable

Background

• Influenza season generally runs from September to June in northern hemisphere

• Peak season for influenza illness is generally February– Many variations– December in one year– Second peak may appear in May

Background

• Focus had been on immunization during early fall– Late arriving vaccine went unused

• SCDHS developed and implemented a plan to utilize as much vaccine as possible– Vaccinate until vaccine runs out– Vaccinate until vaccine expires in June

Background

• SCDHS uses standing orders

• Nurses take proactive role

• Nurses must “buy in” for immunization program to be successful

• Every patients was potential recipient of influenza vaccine

Objectives

• Identify strategies to encourage health care providers to provide influenza immunizations during entire immunization season

• Identify methods to fully utilize influenza vaccine regardless of vaccine delivery time

Methods

• Data collected to determine number of doses of vaccine utilized on monthly basis

• Measure against total number of doses secured for division of Patient Care Services in SCDHS

Utilization of Influenza Vaccine 10/05-1/06

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Oct.17

Oct.27

Nov.10

Nov.18

Jan. 6

# of Vials

Distribution of Influenza Vaccine

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Pediatric Adult

Intial VaccineRemaining Vaccine

Results

• Influenza immunizations are provided beyond usual fall immunization season

• Improved utilization of vaccine

• Less waste of vaccine

Conclusions

• Providing influenza vaccine well after the usually accepted immunization period results in less wasted vaccine and more individuals immunized

• Full utilization of doses encourages increased vaccine production in succeeding years

• Longer vaccination period promotes concept of year round program– Potential preparation in event of pandemic influenza