Variation in public and private supply of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine during a shortage.
BACKGROUND
In late August 2001, a serious shortage of the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) developed in 34 state immunization programs. In September 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published revised recommendations advising physicians to prioritize PCV7 to specific groups of children. The effect of the shortage at the practice level is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the variation between public and private markets in the supply of PCV7 and the nature and extent of the PCV7 shortage at the practice level.


METHODS
Semistructured interviews with office staff responsible for ordering vaccines at private practices in 12 states were conducted between October 19 and November 2, 2001.


METHODS
Variation in supply of PCV7 obtained from public sources and through purchase on the private market. Supply was characterized into 3 categories: "no problem," "problem obtaining a consistent supply," and "out of stock."


RESULTS
Interviews were completed at 405 practices, representing a response rate of 74%. Overall, 51% of practices reported at least 1 episode of being out of stock of public PCV7 and 64% of private PCV7, with significant state-to-state variation. Only 2 of 12 study states had a substantially higher proportion of practices experiencing out-of-stock episodes for public compared with private PCV7, while in 6 states public PCV7 was less frequently out of stock than private PCV7. Only 23% of practices in this study altered their administration policy for private PCV7, while 27% altered their policy for public PCV7.


CONCLUSIONS
The distribution and supply of PCV7 varied between public and private supplies and between states during the shortage. Few practices changed their administration schedules in response to revised recommendations.
Freed
Gary L
GL
Division of General Pediatrics, University of Michigan, 300 N Ingalls 6E08, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0456, USA. gfreed@umich.edu
Davis
Matthew M
MM
Clark
Sarah J
SJ
D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards
D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines