NOTE: This Discussion is closed.

DISCUSSION: What will make the Prioritization Guidance Acceptable?

COMMENT: Acceptable if seen as fair and consistent


Submitted by Marianne Yourdon on 12/6/07 8:53 AM

Just to respond to your comment of the ages H5N1 affects. Most people affected have had very close contact with poultry, so I don't think we can make assumptions about who it would affect if it became a strain that transmits easily from person to person.

During the influenza vaccine shortage a few years back, the public had a real problem with the prioritization. Part of the problem then was that it was not communicated very well, and it was very difficult to differentiate who should be vaccinated in health care, who were truly the ones who had patient contact. Because nursing homes called us at the local health department and asked, if they should vaccinate their custodial staff that spent a lot of time in the patient's rooms.

So in order to be acceptable, the guidelines would have to be quite specific on who fit in where, and there would have to be a sensible rationale that was either based on science or the values of our citizens (such as protecting children.)



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Truth Telling

Submitted by Katharine Fisher on 12/6/07 08:08 AM