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The flu vaccine has not arrived, thus if you are scheduled for vaccinations, we will have to reschedule once our vaccine is released.  The vendors will not commit to any dates; however, we are hopeful they will start releasing in the next two weeks.  Please see excerpt from CDC website regarding priority of rationing:

“Is CDC recommending that inactivated influenza vaccine (“flu shots”) go to “priority groups”, as was recommended last season? To ensure that people who are at highest risk of complications from influenza have access to vaccine, CDC recommends that certain priority groups receive inactivated influenza vaccine (i.e., the “flu shot” until October 24, 2005.  Beginning October 24th, 2005, all persons will be eligible for vaccination.  The following are the priority groups which should be targeted to receive inactivated influenza vaccine (i.e., the flu shot) prior to October 24, 2005:

·         Persons aged 65 years old and older, with and without chronic health conditions

·         Residents of long-term care facilities

·         Persons aged 2-64 years with chronic health conditions

·         Children aged 6-23 months

·         Pregnant women

·         Health-care personnel who provide direct patient care

·         Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged <6 months

It should be noted that vaccination with the live, nasal-spray flu vaccine (FluMist®) is always an option for healthy persons aged 5-49 years who are not pregnant.  This vaccine is not subject to prioritization and can be given to health 5-49 year olds at any time.

People Displaced by Hurricane Katrina:  Influenza vaccination is recommended for all people 6 months of age and older who have been displaced by hurricane Katrina and are living in crowded group settings.  See http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/vaccrecdisplaced.asp

What was the rationale for establishing a tiering date for the 2005-06 influenza vaccination seasons?

Last year, the lack of specific guidance regarding when influenza vaccine could be made more widely available caused much confusion and contributed to millions of doses of vaccine being unused.  As a result, CDC heard from state and local health officials, vaccine manufacturers, community vaccinators, and physician groups that we needed to provide a clearer, more specific time frame for the 2005-06 influenza seasons.  CDC has worked during the past 8 months with these groups to develop a timeframe that (1) recognizes the need to make the first doses of vaccine available to people at the highest risk of complications as well as health care workers and those in close contact with children < 6 months of age, and (2) ensures that providers can effectively plan and deliver vaccine to others in a timely manner.

 

 

 

Why was October 24 chosen as a tiering date?

Demand for influenza vaccine falls off quickly after November, even when there is a shortage.  The planning team has tried to balance two competing priorities: (1) ensuring an ample opportunity to vaccinate persons at highest risk of complications from influenza, providers who care for them, and close contacts of children < 6 months of age, and (2) allowing ample time to vaccinate other priority groups and those desiring vaccination before demand declines.  Community vaccinators and health officials generally need at least 4-5 weeks for optimal planning efforts.  The 2005-06 influenza seasons planning team concluded that October 24, 2005 was the best date to achieve a balance between these priorities.”

 

 

For more information, contact our Client Services Team at (816) 561-2105 or by e-mail at customerservice@ohscompcare.com.  Visit us at www.ohscompcare.com.

*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*

 

OHS-COMPCARE has seven (7) area clinical facilities:

 

Blue Springs Clinical Facility

Independence Clinical Facility

Johnson County Clinical Facility

St. Joseph Clinical Facility

801 St. Mary’s Drive

17020 East 40 Highway

10415 Lackman Road

904 Edmond Street

Blue Springs, MO 64014

Independence, MO 64055

Lenexa, KS 66219

St. Joseph, MO 64501

 

*New Extended Hours*

 

 

 

 

 

 

KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility

KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility

Wyandotte County Clinical Facility

 

1650 Broadway

6501 East Commerce, Suite 110

1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200

 

Kansas City, MO 64108

Kansas City, MO 64120

Kansas City, KS 66102