The Department of Health and Human Services is committed to enhancing seasonal influenza vaccine coverage and raising awareness of the disease and the importance of immunization.
All clinic staff and volunteers in the Title X clinic system should be vaccinated following the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for universal influenza vaccination for all persons 6 months of age and older. OPA also urges you to use any opportunity to remind all patients of the importance of receiving influenza vaccination, perhaps utilizing options that might be available through pharmacies, schools, workplaces, or other local partners.
This year’s vaccine will include the 2009 H1N1 strain as part of the regular seasonal vaccine. Communication science research conducted this summer has shown that consumers may have safety concerns about the 2009 H1N1 strain being included in the vaccine, which may be a barrier to seeking vaccination.
We rely on you as health service providers to emphasize the fact that this year’s flu vaccine is made in the same way as past flu vaccines. An average of 100 million doses of influenza vaccine have been used in the United States each year, and flu vaccines have an excellent safety record.
While everyone is now recommended to receive influenza vaccine, your high-risk patients—pregnant women, those with asthma, diabetes, or other chronic conditions—remain at risk for serious complications from influenza. CDC, and state and local public health agencies, will continue to reinforce efforts to emphasize the crucial importance of vaccine for these groups while simultaneously promoting annual influenza vaccination for everyone in the community.
Studies show that your recommendation makes the difference in convincing patients to seek influenza vaccination.
Free resources such as patient education handouts, posters for your clinic, copies of the vaccine information statement (VIS), and updated information for you and your staff are available at www.cdc.gov/flu/ and www.flu.gov.
For those of you who have been long-time champions of flu vaccine, we truly appreciate your efforts and hope that this new ‘universal’ recommendation makes your job that much easier. For those of you recently joining the fight to prevent the spread of influenza in your community, we hope that you will begin the practice of “any opportunity, for every patient.”
Vaccination continues to be the best protection against influenza, and your efforts will be reflected in a healthier community.
Thank you,
Marilyn Keefe
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs