2006 - 01-23-06 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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BGOK 20 PAGE 768 Influenza Vaccine Supply Resolution Lee County Board of Health Lee County Board of County Commissioners Lee County, North Carolina Whereas each year, a substantial proportion of vaccine-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 bulk 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 ofa national universal - - influenza vaccine recommendation; now Therefore, in recognition of this compelling public health challenge, the Lee County Health Department and the Lee County Board of Commissioners request that: e Sufficient federal finding 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 guarantee distribution to public agencies first; and Enforcement rules be developed for providers who disregard high-risk vaccination criteria. Adopted this day of 2006 Dr. John Shontz, Chair Mr. Herbert H' cks, Chair Lee County Board of Health Lee County Board of Commissioners