"If you have seen one Flu Season, then you have seen one Flu Season."

Nationwide Medical personnel were in attendance at the National Influenza Vaccine Summit in Atlanta, GA. Here is some noteworthy information that we learned by attending the conference:

On February 23, 2012 the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that the Northern Hemisphere's 2013-2014 seasonal influenza vaccine contain the following three vaccine viruses:

• an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus;
• an A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus;
• a B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus (from the B/Yamagata lineage of viruses).

This means that 2/3 strains in this year’s vaccine are new.  This also means this year there is potential for manufacturing problems and/or delays. 

The manufacturers in attendance shared the following information:

• GSK — Projected to manufacture 25-28 million doses.  These figures include both Flulaval (Multi-Dose Vial - MDV) and Fluarix (Pre-filled Syringes - PFS).  Projected release date of late July with last shipment to go out by the end of August.   A quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) will be available in the future including two A strains and two B strains.  There was mention that the age indication would be 3 years and older in the future.
  
  
• Medimmune — Flumist — significant in Pediatrics as this is the nasal inhaler and not a shot. For 2012 they are expecting to produce 13 million doses.  July to August shipping scheduled.  Discussion of a future QIV product.
  
  
• Merck — Merck is distributing Afluria (manufactured by CSL).  Due to adverse events in Australia the age recommendation (regardless of what the product insert says) is nine years of age.  They are expecting a release in August with completion by October. They will be manufacturing 13 million doses total. Two thirds of their production will be in MDV form and one third in PFS vials.
  
  
• Novartis — Fluvirin — Projected to manufacture 30 million doses. Release will begin in August commencing in September.  Novartis states they have cell culture lines in operation that are both egg free and anti-biotic free.  There are plans to expand the age range of their vaccine.  They project "on-time" delivery with sufficient volume for 2012.
  
  
• Sanofi — Projection of 65 million doses to be produced.  The company is in the process of transitioning all products to be 100% preservative-free.  Sanofi has two US vaccine manufacturing plants allowing them to ramp up production of Fluzone MDV by 15% if they should see demand rise. Sanofi has several products available including MDV, PFS, Intradermal vaccine and a High-Dose vaccine. 

Nationwide Medical will be offering and distributing wholesale flu vaccine including this upcoming 2013-2014 season.  Deliveries are projected to begin in the late July to early August timeframe.

Inquiries:
Nationwide Medical is eager to help you find flu vaccine. We ask that you provide us with your contact information so that we can respond to your inquiry below. Let us know which product you are interested in and what your needs are. We look forward to working with you!

Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine
May 5th, 2008

The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year.

There are two types of vaccines:

• The "flu shot"— an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine — a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist®). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age† who are not pregnant.

Each vaccine contains three influenza viruses-one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year.

About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.