Managing The Afluria Flu Vaccine Supply Chain

By Author: MF. Cowan
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You never know when the flu is going to strike. Influenza is known for being unpredictable, especially since flu strains tend to mutate from year to year. Public health officials are always stressing the importance of an annual flu vaccine, and one of the top vaccines in the supply chain is Afluria, supplied by Merck/CSL.

You never know when the flu is going to strike. Influenza is known for being unpredictable, especially since flu strains tend to mutate from year to year. Public health officials are always stressing the importance of an annual flu vaccine, and one of the top vaccines in the supply chain is Afluria, supplied by Merck/CSL.

For healthcare providers, ordering an ample supply of Afluria flu vaccine can aid in flu clinic preparation. Afluria is distributed by FFF Enterprises in Temecula, Calif., the country’s most reliable distributor of vaccines. Other flu vaccines in the supply chain at FFF include Flucelvax, Fluvirin and Agriflu manufactured by Novartis Vaccines; Fluzone, manufactured by sanofi pasteur; FluLaval and Fluarix manufactured by GSK, and MedImmune’s FluMist Quadrivalent intranasal ...
... spray vaccine.

Innovating Vaccine Distribution

As a flu vaccine distributor, FFF is committed to waging war against flu by getting an ample supply of flu vaccines like Afluria through the supply chain and into the hands of healthcare providers. In 2006, FFF developed an innovative program called MyFluVaccine (www.MyFluVaccine.com) to do just that. Unlike the traditional influenza vaccine distribution system, with its uncertain delivery dates and supplies, MyFluVaccine gives healthcare providers the ability to request their delivery dates and quantities, making it easier to plan and prepare for clinics.

In addition to easy online ordering for supplies of vaccines like Afluria, the MyFluVaccine website provides news, updates, resources and clinic planning tools. There are special informative sections for consumers and employer groups, as well as providers. FFF also produces a “Flu Vaccine Myths & Facts” brochure that is downloadable as a PDF from the website, or as a printed booklet that healthcare providers can order for their patients.

Expecting the Unexpected

The flu vaccine supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Those who plan ahead will be confident in the event of a sudden pandemic. Healthcare providers are encouraged to order a supply of Afluria flu vaccine months before flu season begins. This past flu season, many people attempted to get late-season vaccinations in February and March, only to find that pharmacies and clinics had already used up their supply of vaccine for the year. When it comes to flu vaccination, it is best to plan ahead and be safe rather than sorry. Health experts agree that getting a flu vaccine like Afluria is the best way to protect yourself and others.

How Afluria Guards Against Flu

Afluria and other injectable vaccines have a trivalent formulation containing the three flu viruses identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being prevalent for the 2012-13 flu season. These strains are: influenza A (California H1N1 like virus), influenza A (Victoria H3N2 like virus) and influenza B (Wisconsin like virus). Because of this new formulation, even those who received a flu vaccine last year will need to get vaccinated again this year to ensure protection against all three strains.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging everyone 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated against influenza during the 2012-13 flu season. Safe and effective vaccines like Afluria are among the most reliable and easiest ways to avoid the flu and keep flu bugs at bay. For more information, visit www.MyFluVaccine.com.
Resource: http://www.myfluvaccine.com/