Pandemic Influenza Plan - Questar III

Appendix 6-C
Vaccine and Antiviral Medication Procurement
Appendix 6-C is intended to serve as an operational guide to the request, receipt, storage,
shipment and distribution of pandemic influenza vaccine and antiviral medications. It
should be recognized that supplies of both vaccine and antivirals may be limited during a
pandemic. Access to these products will be through the State of New York and will be
controlled at the local level by county health departments. In all cases, the disposition of
these items must be carefully tracked to ensure their appropriate use and efficacy.
I. Levels of Supply
A public health crisis involving pandemic influenza necessitating the need for
distributing vaccine/antiviral medications may be similar to most events that may require
activation of the NYS SNS plan. Vaccine/antiviral availability will change during the
course of a pandemic. Pandemic response strategies will vary with vaccine/antiviral
supply. Four vaccine/antiviral supply levels can be defined.
Stage 1: No Vaccine/Antiviral Supply
At the beginning of a pandemic, it is possible that no vaccine will be available.
Depending on the particular viral strains that make up the pandemic, there may or may
not be a supply of effective antiviral medications available for distribution and use.
Stage 2: Limited Vaccine/Antiviral Supply
When first available, the vaccine/antiviral supply may be less than that required to protect
the susceptible population. Priority groups for vaccine/antivirals will need to be
identified. Plans for distribution of vaccine/antivirals will need to be formulated.
Approaches to inform priority groups about the availability of vaccine/antivirals and
where to receive it; and to educate the public regarding vaccine/antiviral priorities and
their rationale will be needed. Allocation plans for counties that are to receive
vaccine/antivirals need to be developed, based on priority populations. Vaccine/antiviral
effectiveness and safety need to be monitored. Depending on amounts of
vaccine/antivirals available, a State SNS Mobilization Site may be activated.
Repackaging may be required.
Stage 3: Adequate Vaccine/Antiviral Supply
Vaccine/antiviral supply will match the need and ability to distribute vaccine/antivirals.
This will allow a shift from priority groups to the wider population. Strategies are
developed to assure equitable distribution to special needs populations. The State SNS
Plan may be activated to facilitate distribution of the vaccine/antivirals.
Stage 4: Excess Vaccine/Antiviral Supply
Vaccine/antiviral supplies exceed that needed to protect the NYS population. The State
SNS Plan may be activated to facilitate distribution of the vaccine/antivirals. With less
demand and abundant supply vaccine/antiviral distribution may return to normal prepandemic
supply strategies that include the use of private distribution and/or private
providers.
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