22 October 2009
Suozzi Addresses Flu Vaccine Shortage
Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today called on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to better communicate with local health officials regarding seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines.
Based on the CDC’s criteria for critical population at risk, officials believe Nassau County requires 500,000 H1N1 vaccines, but has not received any information as to when these vaccines might be delivered or what procedure the CDC is using to determine who gets how much and when. Suozzi stated that vaccines are being distributed to certain universities and doctors’ offices, but because the CDC has failed to communicate with the County health and emergency management offices, the County is unaware of how much vaccine it has already received, other than the 1,400 that was delivered to the County’s Department of Health. Officials have not been notified as to when more vaccine will be delivered.
“The only information we have is anecdotal. We only know that an institution gets a shipment if they tell us they’ve received vaccines. This is a public health matter and the CDC is not talking to public health departments and sharing information,” said County Executive Suozzi. “We want to give the public as much information as possible, and tell them exactly where and when they can get their flu shots. Right now we can’t do that because the CDC has not given us any information or direction. We’ve been getting second-hand information through the media.”
In an effort to reduce confusion, Suozzi discussed the difference between the seasonal flu vaccine shortage and the H1N1 flu vaccine issue. He attributed the shortage in seasonal flu vaccine to three factors:
- Vaccine manufacturers stopped making seasonal flu vaccines and instead started making H1N1 vaccines
- New York State passed a new mandate requiring all healthcare professionals to get the seasonal flu vaccine
- Increase in demand due to greater attention on flu generally
“These two factors created a surge in demand at a time when supply was less and the public is also concerned about a new strain of the flu illness,” said Suozzi. He called on New York State to suspend mandatory vaccinations for health care workers.
“The Nassau County Department of Health is prepared and ready to go with these vaccinations, but we have not been informed of when the vaccines are coming or even how much the County will be getting. We’re asking for some clear information so we can respond to the tremendous demand for these vaccines,” said Suozzi.
