Universal Influenza Vaccination Recommendations

In Brief Modern vaccines—including influenza vaccine—provide a uniquely powerful and cost-effective way to prevent deadly communicable diseases from spreading. Unfortunately, since the last decade of the 20th century, influenza vaccine supply and distribution problems have steadily grown worse in the United States. Supply disruptions such as delayed deliveries or shortages have occurred in 5 of the last 6 years, hindering efforts to combat a disease that every year kills about 36,000 people and sends more than 200,000 to hospital. Universal influenza recommendations may be one means of resolving our nation's recurring influenza vaccine supply and distribution crises. This article deals with the perspectives of local health departments (LHDs) on the universal influenza recommendations. These recommendations are one means of resolving our nation's recurring influenza vaccine supply and distribution crises. While LHDs are expected to be central and key figures in responding to a pandemic scenario, the expansion of production of influenza vaccine doses may be one key to ensuring that the necessary supply and distribution capacity is built in over time.