New guidelines for the prevention and control of influenza released

Healthcare Purchasing News, August, 2005

The expert panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), has released 2005 recommendations for flu vaccine administration that include five principal changes or updates: 1. ACIP recommends that persons with any condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration be vaccinated against influenza.

2. ACIP emphasizes that all healthcare workers should be vaccinated against influenza annually, and that facilities that employ healthcare workers be strongly encouraged to provide vaccine to workers by using approaches that maximize immunization rates. 3. Use of both available vaccines (inactivated and LAIV) is encouraged for eligible persons every influenza season, especially persons in recommended target groups. 4. The 2005--06 trivalent vaccine virus strains are A/California/7/2004 (H3N2)-like, A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like, and B/Shanghai/361/2002-like antigens. 5. CDC and other agencies will assess the vaccine supply throughout the manufacturing period and will make recommendations preceding the 2005--06 influenza season regarding the need for tiered timing of vaccination of different risk groups. For a complete report go to: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview /mmwrhtml/rr54e713a1.htm