October 22, 2004

MGH faces challenge of flu vaccine shortage

Many MGH employees and staff have been getting questions from patients and families about the hospital's supply of flu vaccine in light of the national shortage. The MGH — like many other hospitals — is faced with making difficult decisions to restrict or limit doses of vaccine to only those patients and staff who are at the highest risk. Of the 60,000 doses of flu vaccine the MGH had ordered earlier this year, the hospital only received 10,000 doses. Efforts are being made to obtain additional doses, but there will not be enough to conduct the broad-based flu shot program this year
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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) issued a public health order limiting the distribution of flu vaccine to only those individuals who are in high-risk categories. Healthy people who are not at risk for complications from the flu will not be able to get a flu shot this year. Under this public health order, providers who give flu shots to those who are not in one of the high-risk groups can be penalized. The DPH will be issuing further guidance in the next week to help set priorities among those at high risk.

Because the number of patients and staff who fall into one of the high-risk
categories exceeds the number of doses the hospital has, the MGH must further prioritize those who can be vaccinated. The hospital will look to primary care physicians to determine which of their patients are in most critical need of the vaccine.

The hospital expects to be able to begin to offer flu vaccines to high-risk patients in the next two weeks. The off-campus sites, such as the MGH health centers, will get a limited amount to administer to those in most critical need. On the main campus, plans are underway to use a centralized approach to providing the flu vaccine to inpatients and outpatients who are most in need.

The hospital also will use some of the limited flu vaccine for specific MGH staff members, with a centralized staff vaccination program through Occupational Health. Plans are being developed to vaccinate staff members who work in those areas where they would be most likely to be exposed to patients who have flu symptoms. Vaccinations also will be offered to staff members who care for patients who would be at highest risk of complications if they were to get the flu.

While the flu vaccine is limited this year, there are various steps that everyone can take to help prevent the spread of flu, such as frequent hand washing, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and staying home when sick. MGH Environmental Services will be installing more Cal Stat dispensers (shown below) at various locations throughout the hospital. In addition, the hospital pharmacy has ordered additional doses of antiviral medications to treat those who contract the flu.

Updates will continue to be given as details of the distribution program are developed. Patients with questions about the flu vaccine should be directed to the flu shot hotline at (877) 733-3737. Additional information is available on the DPH website at www.mass.gov/dph/flu. For more information about patient flu vaccinations, call Gregg Meyer, MD, at (617) 724-9194 or pager #33597. For questions about staff vaccinations, call Susan Loomis, RN, in Occupational Health at (617) 726-2217.