KEYWORDS:
Coalition, Consensus, Influenza Vaccine, Nursing Homes

BACKGROUND:
Rockland County has an Adult Immunization Coalition that meets several times a year to discuss adult immunization issues. The coalition consists of representatives of various organizations in the private and public sectors, including the local and state health departments, the Office for the Aging, senior centers, hospitals, health centers, pharmaceutical companies and nursing homes. Rockland County has 10 registered nursing homes with approximately 1800 beds. During the summer of 2001, the Coalition informed all the members of the anticipated delay in distribution of influenza vaccine for 2001-2002.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To assure that people at highest risk for serious influenza-related complications are vaccinated first. Risk category 1, from the Flu Vaccination Prioritization Plan for the 2001-2002 season, includes the residents of nursing homes.

METHOD(S):
Nursing homes were queried via telephone surveys to identify facilities that did not receive flu vaccine.

RESULT(S):
The Rockland County Department of Health conducted a survey of nursing homes in need of flu vaccine in Rockland County. Infection Control Nurses (ICN) at all nursing homes were contacted via telephone calls and asked about their vaccine availability. As of November 1st, none of the nursing homes had received vaccine. As of November 5th, Rockland County Department of Health had 2100 doses in total derived from County purchases and State donation. By consensus, the coalition decided to cover all nursing homes first and then run public senior clinics, given the limited quantity of vaccine that the County had available for distribution. All nursing homes were supplied with sufficient vaccine by November 9th and public senior clinic commenced on November 30th.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
To assure that high risk seniors in all nursing homes are vaccinated despite a systemic flu vaccine distribution delay.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Coalitions provide a productive forum for the exchange of information and problem solving through consensus of its membership.