CDC issues H1N1 vaccine planning guide

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released an H1N1 flu vaccination planning guide, which answers questions related to vaccine distribution and administration.

According to CDC, five manufacturers are producing H1N1 flu vaccine for the U.S. If vaccine shipment begins in mid-October as expected, planners should expect to receive about 120 million doses over four weeks, followed by shipments of roughly 20 million doses per week.

Vaccine will be shipped to clinics, offices, health departments and others who receive CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness grants. Clinical trials will determine dosing, but planners should assume that two doses will be administered 21 to 28 days apart, with single-dose syringes provided for young children and pregnant women. Needles, syringes, sharps containers and alcohol swabs will be distributed with the vaccine.