James Anthony Ransom1, Nicole Smith
2, Xiaoya Du
3, Cynthia Phillips
4, and Katherine Schaff
4. (1) Immunization Program, National Association of County and City Health Officials, 1100 17th St. NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC, USA, (2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program, Immunization Services Division, 1600 Clifton Road, NE MS-E52, Atlanta, GA, USA, (3) Membership Services, National Association of County and City Health Officials, 1100 17th St. NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC, USA, (4) Community Health and Prevention, National Association of County and City Health Officials, 1100 17th St. NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC, USA
BACKGROUND:
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) maintains a database of local public health agency (LPHA) immunization contacts and uses it for rapid dissemination of urgent information to LPHAs. The database was used twice in December 2003 to conduct brief online surveys regarding influenza vaccine inventory and distribution.
OBJECTIVE:
The surveys sought the following information: 1) whether LPHAs were experiencing spot shortages of influenza vaccine; 2) steps they took to alleviate negative sequelae if they were experiencing shortages; and 3) status of influenza vaccine inventory at LPHAs nationwide.
METHOD:
Survey Web-links were E-mailed to LPHAs (n=1262) on December 2 and December 9. Both surveys were closed 48 hours after posting. Two hundred forty-five E-mails were undeliverable and were deducted from denominators. We assumed that 1017 E-mails were delivered.
RESULT:
Responding LPHAs were from 44 states, representing rural, suburban, and urban LPHAs. In the first survey (n=538), 170 (32%) respondents reported a shortage of influenza vaccine. In the second survey (n=437), 299 (71%) responding LPHAs had no vaccine inventory as of December 10; and 227 (54%) had an influenza vaccine reallocation plan in their jurisdictions.
CONCLUSION:
Brief online surveys of LPHAs are useful tools for assessing impact of vaccine supply crises on LPHAs and for tracking influenza vaccine inventories for local reallocation and sharing efforts. These surveys 1) help elucidate some of the functioning local partnership plans that alleviate negative consequences of supply disruptions; 2) facilitate better coordination between federal, state, and local public health partners to mitigate supply crises; 3) help establish a more formal system of tracking public sector influenza vaccine inventories; 4) help inform CDC's response plans; and 5) help NACCHO respond appropriately to its members' needs and concerns.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Participants will understand the importance of effective partnering between local, state, and federal public health agencies during vaccine supply crises.