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Each year, the FDA, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, and the flu vaccine manufacturers collaborate in protecting Americans from the influenza virus. Preparing for the flu season is a time-critical, highly orchestrated effort by all parties. One of the biggest challenges, in attempts to keep up with the mutating virus, is to produce a new vaccine each season.
This season, FDA officials reported that the agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted unanimously to follow the lead of the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommended that producers use three new flu strains in this season's vaccine, replacing all three components from last season’s version. Changing one or two strains from season to season is not unusual; changing all three strains is unprecedented. Despite the decision for change in all three strains, flu manufacturers have begun shipping their products already, earlier than usual. All but one of the five manufacturers expected to supply a record 143 million doses to the U.S. began shipping the vaccine in the beginning of August, after receiving FDA approval on August 5th.
Vaccination remains the cornerstone of preventing influenza. With the updated guidelines, the CDC is now recommending about 258 million Americans or about 84% of the population get vaccinated. There is also concern that last year's mismatch will discourage people from bothering to get vaccinated this season. Encouraging staff and patients to get vaccinated will help prevent the spread of the influenza virus. The National Vaccination Week promotion has been moved from the week after Thanksgiving to Dec. 8-14 as part of an effort to extend the vaccination season well into the winter, given that flu doesn't peak until February in past years.
Click HERE to view the 2008-2009 Flu Vaccine Order Form!
To Place an Order With ABO Pharmaceuticals Call
Toll Free 877-226-2266 or Direct 949-699-2727.
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