Impact of the 2004 Influenza Vaccine Shortage on Repeat Immunization Rates

Abstract

PURPOSEWe assessed the impact of the severe infl uenza vaccine shortage of 2004 on individual physicians' immunization performance. Using 1998Using -2004 Medicare claims data, we monitored the physician continuity rate (proportion of patients receiving infl uenza immunization from a physician in 1 year who received a subsequent immunization from the same physician the subsequent year) and other clinician rate (proportion of patients with claims from 1 physician in 1 year with a claim from another clinician the subsequent year) in West Virginia Medicare benefi ciaries from 2000-2004. We examined vaccine claim trends by clinician and surveys of self-reported immunization to determine whether patients received vaccine from nonphysician clinicians or went without immunization each year. METHODS RESULTS

Prevention of Mother-to-Infant Transmission of Influenza during the Postpartum Period

“…The 2003 to 2004 season was complicated by vaccine shortages and a predominant circulating nonvaccine strain of influenza A. [33][34][35] In 2009, none of the mothers diagnosed with influenza A (H1N1) infection were vaccinated before delivery due to the late availability of the vaccine. 30,36 Further efforts are needed to maximize influenza vaccination rates in pregnant women.…”

Reply to Temte and Campos-Outcalt

“…Moreover, older individuals are more likely to receive influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations from generalist continuity clinicians than from specialist continuity providers [9]. In contrast, when influenza vaccine is not available from a continuity clinician, Medicare claims data indicate that patients do not receive vaccines elsewhere [10].…”