Pandemic influenza vaccination distribution: Evaluating the policies of several large municipalities across the United States

Eric S. Raymond, Doctoral Student; P. Edward French, PhD

doi:10.5055/jem.2009.0010

Authors

Eric S. Raymond, Doctoral Student
P. Edward French, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2009.0010

Keywords:

pandemic influenza, vaccine distribution, local government

Abstract

The H5N1 influenza viral strain, or “avian flu,” has been a cause of concern for health officials at all levels of government since 2003. As it currently exhibits a 60 percent mortality rate, this strain uncomfortably resembles the H1N1 viral strain that killed more than 50 million people worldwide in the early twentieth century. Although limited worldwide vaccine-production capabilities prevent the mass distribution of vaccines in the event of a pandemic from this or any other viral strain, government officials are left with few options but to develop vaccination distribution policies for their respective communities. This research evaluates the vaccine distribution policies of eight municipalities with populations greater than 100,000 across the United States to determine the reasoning for prioritizing certain individuals over others. The authors find that each of the vaccination distribution policies follow Department of Health and Human Services guidelines with some minor modifications; however, we propose that a cost benefit analysis model which includes public participation and considers social continuance, economics, and the flexibility to adjust vaccination distribution is a more favorable approach.

Author Biographies

Eric S. Raymond, Doctoral Student

Department of Political Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

P. Edward French, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi.

References

Late M: APHA poll: Americans are not ready for public health crises. The Nations Health. 2007; 37(4): 1-3.

Milgrim M: Vaccine prioritization during an influenza pandemic: Fairfax County Health Department: Pandemic influenza planning. Critical Infrastructure Protection Program. George Mason University Law School, 2007.

Haber MJ, Shay DK, Davis XM, et al.: Effectiveness of interventions to reduce contact rates during a simulated influenza pandemic. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007; 13: 581-589.

Lister SA: Congressional Research Service Report for Congress. Pandemic influenza: Domestic preparedness efforts, 2005. Texas A & M University eLearning Management System Web site. Available at https://onlinelearning.tamu.edu/webct/entryPageIns.dowebct. Accessed September 17, 2007.

Luke CJ, Subbarao K: Vaccines for pandemic influenza. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006; 12: 66-72.

Gostin LO, Berkman BE: Pandemic influenza: Ethics, law, and the public’s health. Administrative Law Rev. 2007; 59(1): 121-176.

Gostin LO: Pandemic influenza: Public health preparedness for the next global health emergency. J Law Med Ethics. 2004; 32(4): 565-574.

Gostin LO: Influenza pandemic preparedness: Legal and ethical dimensions. 2004; 34(5): 10-12.

Fauci AS: Pandemic influenza threat and preparedness. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006; 12: 73-77.

Department of Health and Human Services: Pandemic flu: General information, 2007. Available at www.pandemicflu.gov/General/index.html. Accessed September 20, 2007.

Waugh W Jr, Streib G: Collaboration and leadership for effective emergency management. Public Administration Rev. 2006; 66 [Special Issue (December)]: 131-140.

Osterholm MT: Preparing for the next pandemic. Foreign Affairs, 2005. Available at www.foreignaffairs.org/20050701faessay84402/micheal-t-osterholm/preparing-for-the-next-pandemic.html?mode=print. Accessed September 17, 2007.

Emanuel EJ, Wertheimer A: Vaccine prioritization during an influenza pandemic: Overview of health and human services’ response plan concerning vaccine prioritization, 2007. George Mason University Law School, Critical Infrastructure Protection Program Web site. Available at http://cipp.gmu.edu/archive/ PandemicMonograph_1007.pdf. Accessed November 14, 2007.

Melzer MI, Cox NJ, Fukuda K: The economic impact of pandemic influenza in the United States: Priorities for intervention. Emerg Infect Dis. 1999; 5: 659-671.

The World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region: Spread of the avian flu could affect next year’s economic outlook (Excerpted from the November 2005 East Asia Update-Countering Global Shocks). Available at http://siteResources.Worldbank.org/INTEAPHALFYEARLYUPDATE/Resources/EAP-Brief-avian-flu.pdf. Accessed September 20, 2007.

Hardy C: Vaccine prioritization during an influenza pandemic: Overview of health and human services’ response plan concerning vaccine prioritization. George Mason University Law School, Critical Infrastructure Protection Program Web site. Available at http://cipp.gmu.edu/archive/PandemicMonograph_1007.pdf. Accessed November 14, 2007.

Kinlaw K, Levine R: Ethics subcommittee of the advisory committee to the director, centers for disease control and prevention. Ethical Guidelines in Pandemic Influenza. Available at www.cdc.gov/od/science/phec/panFlu_Ethic_Guidelines.pdf. Accessed February 2, 2008.

Austin / Travis County Health and Human Services Department: Preparedness and response plan for pandemic influenza, 2006. Available at www.ci.austin.tx.us/pandemicflu/downloads/flu_plan.pdf. Accessed June 1, 2008.

Boston Public Health Commission: Pandemic influenza plan, 2007. Available at www.bphc.org/bphc/pdfs/panfluplan_1206.pdf. Accessed May 27, 2008.

Cleveland/Cuyahoga County: Cuyahoga county pandemic influenza response plan, 2006. Available at www.ccbh.net/ccbh/ export/sites/default/CCBH/pdf/ESI_Docs/ESI_Cuyahoga_County_Pandemic_Influenza_Respose_Plan.pdf. Accessed May 25, 2008.

Kansas City, Missouri Health Department: Pandemic influenza preparedness plan, 2008. Available at www.kcmo.org/health.nsf/web/fluplan. Accessed May 7, 2008.

Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness: Pandemic influenza and highly infectious respiratory disease standard operating guide, 2006. Available at www.louisvilleky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5596F977-6F11-4E35-BFFF-344A82EE77CA/0/LMHD_Pandemicinfluenza_v10.pdf. Accessed May 8, 2008.

Memphis and Shelby County Health Department: Pandemic influenza response plan, 2007. Available at www.memphistn.gov/framework.aspx?page=812. Accessed October 3, 2007.

Seattle/King County Public Health: Pandemic influenza response plan, 2007.Available at www.metrokc.gov/health/pandemicflu/plan/panflu-response-plan.pdf. Accessed May 25, 2008.

Tulsa Health Department: Pandemic influenza plan, 2007. Available at www.tulsa-health.org/emergency-preparedness/pandemicinfluenza-planning/. Accessed May 24, 2008.

Davis M: The Monster at Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu. New York, NY: Owl Books, 2005.