DATE:September 21, 2004
TO:Health Alert Network
FROM:Calvin B. Johnson, MD, MPH
Secretary of Health
SUBJECT:The Elderly Immunization Act – Act 86
COUNTIES AFFECTED:Statewide Distribution
HOSPITALS: PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ALL MEDICAL, INFECTION CONTROL, LABORATORY, AND NURSING STAFF IN YOUR HOSPITAL
LOCAL HEALTH JURISDICTIONS: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS APPROPRIATE
PROFESSIONAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP AS APPROPRIATE
EMS COUNCILS: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS APPROPRIATE
FQHC: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS APPROPRIATE
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) is releasing the following information related to the Act 86 or the Elderly Immunization Act that will go into effect October 13, 2004.
On July 15, 2004, Governor Edward G. Rendell signed into law Act 86 of 2004. Act 86, requires that hospitals inform all persons 65 years and older who are admitted for over 24 hours for a condition unrelated to the influenza virus or pneumococcal disease of the availability of influenza and pneumococcal immunizations and be provided the opportunity to receive the vaccinations prior to discharge.
The Act also requires vaccination for the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease shall also be offered to an eligible person at facilities providing ongoing medical care, including physicians’ offices, public health clinics, hemodialysis centers, hospital specialty-care clinics and outpatient rehabilitation programs.
Receipt of these vaccinations shall be documented on the patient’s chart and made a part of the patient’s permanent record at the hospital or other facility. If the facility determines it is not possible to provide the vaccine, information shall be provided to the patient on other options for obtaining the vaccine.
The influenza vaccination should be administered annually with the timeframe beginning in October and continuing as long as the vaccine is available. The pneumococcal vaccination is a one time documented dose of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and is administered throughout the year.
Information about these vaccines and educational materials for patients can be found on the Department of Health’s website at along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at PADOH along with the CDC strongly encourages health care providers to provide recipients of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines the current Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) as well as documentation of the publication number and date documented in the medical record. The VIS for the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines can be downloaded for printing from either website.
Presently, Aventis Pasteur and Chiron Corporation are licensed to produce the inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine for persons over the age of 65 years; and Merck Vaccine Division is licensed to produce the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. To contact these manufacturers for information or to place an order for vaccine, please call:
Aventis Pasteur 1-800-822-2463
Chiron Corporation1-800-244-7668
Merck Vaccine Division 1-800-637-2579
If clinicians have any questions or patients of concern they would like to discuss, please contact the Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH.
Categories of Health Alert messages:
Health Alert: conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.
Health Advisory: provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.
Health Update: provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.
This information is current as of September 21, 2004, but may be modified in the future. We will continue to post updated information regarding the most common questions about this subject.
Page 1 of 2 – Advisory #18