Survey of vaccine distribution and delivery issues in the USA: from pediatrics to pandemics.
Vaccine distribution and delivery has become an issue of significant interest, given the threat of a pandemic influenza outbreak and the resulting need for coordinated efforts to distribute and deliver pandemic influenza vaccines into the hands of healthcare workers responsible for administering them. This review provides an overview of the issues that are most relevant to vaccine distribution and delivery, including routine pediatric immunization, combination vaccines, vaccine shortages and stockpiling, seasonal influenza vaccines and, of most current interest, a discussion on pandemic influenza outbreak issues and a list of future distribution and delivery challenges that may be faced during such an event.
Jacobson
Sheldon H
SH
Simulation and Optimization Laboratory, Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801-2302, USA. shj@uiuc.edu
Sewell
Edward C
EC
Jokela
Janet A
JA
D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D007252:Influenza Vaccines