[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 151 (Friday, December 8, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2160-E2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION ADDRESSING THE FLU VACCINE SHORTAGE

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                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2000

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, influenza is a serious illness that 
afflicts millions of Americans each year. While most Americans recover 
after a few days, influenza causes thousands of deaths each year, 
mostly among the elderly. Fortunately, vaccination can prevent a person 
from becoming infected with influenza.
  Influenza vaccines are developed each year because the flu virus 
naturally mutates and changes. This year's strain of flu vaccine has 
been a particularly difficult strain to produce for all manufacturers, 
and as a result, there are lower than normal yields. Although we expect 
there will be sufficient vaccines for this year, there has been a delay 
in releasing vaccines to the public.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended 
vaccinations first be given to individuals who are at particularly high 
risk for developing complications. This group includes individuals who 
are 65 years or older, people who suffer from chronic illnesses, 
individuals in nursing homes, children who are undergoing long-term 
aspirin therapy, and pregnant women.
  Ninety percent of vaccines are distributed by private sector 
distributors for use by health care providers. This resolution urges 
these private sector distributors to follow the CDC's recommendations 
to ensure that those at highest risk for influenza complications be 
given priority in receiving their vaccine.

                               H. Res. --

       Whereas influenza is a contagious viral infection that 
     affects the respiratory tract;
       Whereas people of any age can become infected with 
     influenza;
       Whereas, although most people who become infected with 
     influenza recover within a few days, some people develop 
     serious complications that can become life-threatening;
       Whereas influenza causes thousands of deaths each year, 
     mostly among the elderly;
       Whereas vaccination can prevent a person from becoming 
     infected with influenza;
       Whereas the periodic mutation of the influenza virus 
     requires the influenza vaccine to be annually updated to 
     contain the most recent influenza virus strains;

[[Page E2161]]

       Whereas a lower-than-expected yield of one of the 
     components of this season's influenza vaccine has caused the 
     distribution of the vaccine to be delayed;
       Whereas the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human 
     Services, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug 
     Administration, and the Director of the Centers for Disease 
     Control and Prevention are working closely with vaccine 
     manufacturers to facilitate the availability of a safe and 
     effective influenza vaccine for this influenza season;
       Whereas temporary shortages of the influenza vaccine early 
     in this influenza season may require decisions to be made 
     regarding how to prioritize the use of the available vaccine;
       Whereas the vaccine available early in this influenza 
     season should be used to maximize the protection of people at 
     a high risk of developing complications from an influenza 
     infection;
       Whereas the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention reports that the groups of people at a high
       (1) people who are 65 and older;
       (2) residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care 
     facilities that house people who have chronic medical 
     conditions;
       (3) people who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary or 
     cardiovascular systems, including asthma;
       (4) people who have had required medical follow up or 
     hospitalization during the past year because of chronic 
     metabolic disease, kidney dysfunction, blood disorders, or 
     immunosuppression;
       (5) children and teenagers who are receiving long-term 
     aspirin therapy; and
       (6) women who will be in the second or third trimester of 
     pregnancy during the influenza season;
       Whereas all influenza vaccine used in the United States is 
     produced in the private sector, and 90 percent of that 
     vaccine is distributed by private-sector distributors for use 
     by health care providers;
       Whereas reports have indicated that certain distributors of 
     the influenza vaccine are taking advantage of the influenza 
     vaccine shortage by raising their prices by as much as 500 
     percent;
       Whereas distributors are first supplying those buyers 
     willing to pay the highest price for the influenza vaccine, 
     even when those buyers were the last to order;
       Whereas, for example, although the Director of the 
     California Department of Health Services contracted with a 
     distributor in February to purchase influenza vaccine at a 
     cost of $17.99 per vial and has received only one third of 
     the order, the Director of the Maine Division of Disease 
     Control contracted with that same distributor in June and 
     July to purchase influenza vaccine at a cost of $39.00 per 
     vial and received both shipments within two months; and
       Whereas distributors are in a unique position to make 
     vaccines available first to facilities serving people at a 
     high risk of developing complications from an influenza 
     infection, such as nursing homes, hospitals, and doctors 
     offices: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that the private-sector distributors of the 
     influenza vaccine should make all reasonable efforts to 
     ensure that, during any shortage of the influenza vaccine, 
     priority is given to distributing the available vaccine to 
     those groups of people identified by the Director of the 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as being at a high 
     risk of developing complications from an influenza infection.

     

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