October 14, 2004

Dear Colleagues:

We want to assure you that during the current vaccine shortage we are working tirelessly with federal, state and local governmental agencies and community leaders to obtain additional flu vaccine and to ensure the most effective use of available vaccines in line with all scientific, national and infection control guidelines. Because of the significant national shortage of influenza vaccine, Johns Hopkins thus far has received only 1,000 of the anticipated 25,000 doses we had ordered for distribution to The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Pharmaquip, Bayview Medical Center, University Health Services, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, and the Kennedy Krieger Institute.

While we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate impact of the current shortage, prudence dictates that we plan for a worse case scenario. Accordingly, we will prioritize vaccine distribution to high-risk employees and patients as outlined in our earlier message and based on Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. (http://www.insidehopkinsmedicine.org/news/leadershipcorner/2004/100804.cfm).

We urge employees to seek flu vaccinations from their primary care physicians, in community settings or at clinics offering them. Locations of these sites, dates and times can be obtained at www.maximflu.com. Clinical care employees with direct patient contact are considered high-risk by the CDC. They should take their Hopkins employee identification badges with them when seeking vaccinations in community settings.

TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO OBTAIN FLU VACCINE FROM THESE ALTERNATE SITES, WE WILL REIMBURSE ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES UP TO $20.00 OF THE COST IF YOU HAVE EHP INSURANCE. YOU SHOULD SUBMIT YOUR REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH THE USUAL EHP CLAIMS PROCESS. THOSE HAVING OTHER INSURANCE PLANS WILL BE ADVISED OF THE PROCESS THEY NEED TO FOLLOW FOR VACCINE REIMBURSEMENT AS SOON AS DETAILS ARE WORKED OUT.

Please bear with us. The staff working on the flu vaccine problem are extraordinarily busy and are unable to respond promptly due to the high volume of inquiries they have received. To help you, we have established a website (www.insidehopkinsmedicine.org/flu) with information about the vaccine shortage. It offers questions and answers and links to other resources. We urge you to consult these sources before you submit questions regarding the current situation. We will continue to keep you updated as we receive new information.

Sincerely,