IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 672

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the private-sector

distributors of the influenza vaccine should give priority to distributing

the available vaccine to those people at a high risk of developing complications from an influenza infection.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DECEMBER 8, 2000

Mr. GREEN of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was referred

to the Committee on Commerce

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that

the private-sector distributors of the influenza vaccine

should give priority to distributing the available vaccine

to those people at a high risk of developing complications

from an influenza infection.

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;
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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;

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

risk of developing complications from an influenza infection are—

(1) people who are 65 and older;
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(2) residents of nursing homes and other chroniccare 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 longterm 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
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$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

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that the private-sector distributors of the in3 fluenza vaccine should make all reasonable efforts to en4 sure that, during any shortage of the influenza vaccine,

5 priority is given to distributing the available vaccine to

6 those groups of people identified by the Director of the

7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as being at

8 a high risk of developing complications from an influenza

9 infection.

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