HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2005-094 Influenza Vaccine Supply Resolution and Pandemic Preparationsi. ~s-a~~s~~~
Influenza Vaccine Supply Resolution ) ~ _ (~ J ~- ~~ ~ S
Orange County Board of Health ~ C
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
Orange County, North Carolina
Whereas, each year, a substantial proportion ofvaccine-preventable diseases occur among adults, despite
the availability of safe and effective vaccines; and
Whereas, adult immunization levels continue to lag far behind childhood rates, and adult morbidity and
mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases remain distressingly high; and
Whereas, adults form the core infrastructure needed to respond to any emergent public safety and health
need; and
Whereas, the burden of and responsibility for vaccinating high-risk and vulnerable populations often falls
upon public health departments and their public partners; and
Whereas, public health is often unable to serve the high-risk and vulnerable populations within a
community because of a lack of timely distribution of vaccine, especially influenza vaccine; and
Whereas, commercial vaccinators make early bulls purchases of influenza vaccine and are able to offer
mass flu campaigns before public health can vaccinate high-risk populations; and
Whereas, the federal government and local medical providers look to the public health infrastructure to
be prepared to respond to and coordinate the response of any communicable disease outbreak, including
an influenza pandemic; and
Whereas, the federal government has provided support for the childhood immunization program
nationally that has resulted in dramatic reductions in childhood vaccine preventable diseases; and
Whereas, an adult immunization infrastructure is needed prior to implementation of a national universal
influenza vaccine recommendation;
Now Therefore, in recognition of this compelling public health challenge, the Orange County Health
Department and the Orange County Commissioners request that:
• Sufficient federal funding be identified to support a robust adult vaccine preventable disease
vaccination infrastructure and program that would include influenza as a primary component;
• Guaranteed government prices for influenza vaccine be offered as an incentive for vaccine
production to meet the demand;
• Federal government bulk purchase a base number of doses for public health;
• Regulations be created to guazantee distribution to public agencies first; and
• Enforcement rules be developed for providers who disregard high-risk vaccination criteria.
Orange County Board of Health