Proposed Vaccine Information Materials for Hepatitis A and Influenza Vaccines; Interim Vaccine Information Materials for Influenza Vaccines, 43694-43699 [05-14924]

Agencies

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 144 (Thursday, July 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43694-43699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14924]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Proposed Vaccine Information Materials for Hepatitis A and 
Influenza Vaccines; Interim Vaccine Information Materials for Influenza 
Vaccines

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice with comment period.

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[[Page 43695]]

SUMMARY: Under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) (42 
U.S.C. 300aa-26), the CDC must develop vaccine information materials 
that all health care providers are required to give to patients/parents 
prior to administration of specific vaccines. CDC seeks written comment 
on proposed new vaccine information materials for hepatitis A and 
trivalent influenza vaccines. In addition, to ensure that influenza 
vaccine information materials are available at the beginning of the 
upcoming influenza vaccination season, this notice includes interim 
vaccine information materials covering influenza vaccines for use 
pending issuance of final influenza materials following completion of 
the formal NCVIA development process.

DATES: Written comments are invited and must be received on or before 
September 26, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Stephen L. Cochi, 
M.D., M.P.H., Acting Director, National Immunization Program, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop E-05, 1600 Clifton Road, 
N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30333.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L Cochi, M.D., M.P.H., Acting 
Director, National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention, Mailstop E-05, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, 
Georgia 30333, telephone (404) 639-8200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 
1986 (Pub. L. 99-660), as amended by section 708 of Public Law 103-183, 
added section 2126 to the Public Health Service Act. Section 2126, 
codified at 42 U.S.C. 300aa-26, requires the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services to develop and disseminate vaccine information materials 
for distribution by all health care providers in the United States to 
any patient (or to the parent or legal representative in the case of a 
child) receiving vaccines covered under the National Vaccine Injury 
Compensation Program.
    Development and revision of the vaccine information materials, also 
known as Vaccine Information Statements (VIS), have been delegated by 
the Secretary to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 
Section 2126 requires that the materials be developed, or revised, 
after notice to the public, with a 60-day comment period, and in 
consultation with the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines, 
appropriate health care provider and parent organizations, and the Food 
and Drug Administration. The law also requires that the information 
contained in the materials be based on available data and information, 
be presented in understandable terms, and include:
    (1) A concise description of the benefits of the vaccine,
    (2) A concise description of the risks associated with the vaccine,
    (3) A statement of the availability of the National Vaccine Injury 
Compensation Program, and
    (4) Such other relevant information as may be determined by the 
Secretary.
    The vaccines initially covered under the National Vaccine Injury 
Compensation Program were diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, 
mumps, rubella and poliomyelitis vaccines. Since April 15, 1992, any 
health care provider in the United States who intends to administer one 
of these covered vaccines is required to provide copies of the relevant 
vaccine information materials prior to administration of any of these 
vaccines. Since June 1, 1999, health care providers are also required 
to provide copies of vaccine information materials for the following 
vaccines that were added to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation 
Program: hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and 
varicella (chickenpox) vaccines. In addition, use of vaccine 
information materials for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has been 
required since December 15, 2002. Instructions for use of the vaccine 
information materials and copies of the materials can be found on the 
CDC Web site at: https://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/. In addition, 
single camera-ready copies are available from State health departments. 
A list of State health department contacts for obtaining copies of 
these materials is included in a December 17, 1999 Federal Register 
notice (64 FR 70914).

Proposed Hepatitis A Vaccine Information Materials

Interim and Proposed Influenza Vaccine Information Materials

    With the December 1, 2004 addition of hepatitis A vaccine and the 
July 1, 2005 addition of trivalent influenza vaccines to the National 
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, CDC, as required under 42 U.S.C. 
300aa-26, is proposing vaccine information materials covering those 
vaccines, which are included in this notice. In addition, in order to 
have Influenza Vaccine Information Statements available for use in the 
upcoming influenza vaccination season, the proposed influenza vaccine 
materials are also being issued as interim VISs through this notice. 
These interim materials may be used by providers pending completion of 
the final influenza vaccine information materials.

Development of Vaccine Information Materials

    The vaccine information materials referenced in this notice are 
being developed in consultation with the Advisory Commission on 
Childhood Vaccines, the Food and Drug Administration, and parent and 
health care provider groups.
    In addition, we invite written comment on the proposed vaccine 
information materials that follow, entitled ``Hepatitis A Vaccine: What 
You Need to Know,'' ``Inactivated Influenza Vaccine: What You Need to 
Know,'' and ``Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine: What You Need to 
Know.'' Comments submitted will be considered in finalizing these 
materials. When the final materials are published in the Federal 
Register, the notice will include an effective date for their mandatory 
use.
    We also propose to revise the January 15, 2003 Instructions for the 
Use of Vaccine Information Statements to add the requirement for use of 
the hepatitis A and influenza vaccine information materials.

Use of Interim Influenza Vaccine Information Materials

    The proposed influenza vaccine information materials included in 
this notice are concurrently being issued through this notice as 
interim Influenza Vaccine Information Statements, dated July 18, 2005. 
Providers are encouraged to use these interim materials pending 
issuance of the final influenza materials following completion of the 
formal NCVIA development process. Copies of these interim influenza 
VISs can be downloaded in PDF format from the CDC Web site at: https://
www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/.

Proposed Hepatitis A Vaccine Information Statement

Hepatitis A Vaccine: What You Need to Know

1. Why get vaccinated?
    Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A 
virus (HAV). HAV is found in the stool of people with hepatitis A. It 
is usually spread by close personal contact and sometimes by eating 
food or drinking water containing HAV.
    Hepatitis A can cause:
     Mild ``flu-like'' illness;
     Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes);
     Severe stomach pains and diarrhea.

[[Page 43696]]

    People who become ill with hepatitis A often have to be 
hospitalized.
    About 100 people die from hepatitis A infection in the U.S. each 
year.
    A person who has hepatitis A can easily pass the disease to other 
people in the same household. Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent hepatitis 
A.
2. Who should get hepatitis A vaccine and when?
WHO?
     Children and adolescents who live in states or communities 
where routine vaccination has been recommended.
     People 2 years of age and older traveling to or working in 
countries where risk for catching hepatitis A is high. These include 
countries located in Central or South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, 
Asia (except Japan), Africa, and Eastern Europe.
     Men who have sex with men.
     People who use street drugs.
     People with chronic liver disease.
     People who are treated with clotting factor concentrates.
     People who work with HAV-infected primates or who work 
with HAV in research laboratories.
    Other people might get hepatitis A vaccine in special situations:
     Hepatitis A vaccine might be recommended for children or 
adolescents in communities where outbreaks of hepatitis A are 
occurring.
    Hepatitis A vaccine is not licensed for children younger than 2 
years of age.
WHEN?
    Two doses of the vaccine are needed for lasting protection. These 
doses should be given at least 6 months apart. If you miss the second 
dose, get it as soon as you can. There is no need to start over.
--The hepatitis A vaccine series may be started whenever a person is at 
risk of infection.
--For travelers, the vaccine works best if given at least one month 
before traveling.
--Travelers who get the vaccine less than one month before traveling 
may also get a second shot called Immune Globulin (IG). IG gives 
immediate, temporary protection.
    Hepatitis A vaccine may be given at the same time as other 
vaccines.
3. Some people should not get hepatitis A vaccine or should wait
     Anyone who has ever had a severe (life-threatening) 
allergic reaction to a previous dose of hepatitis A vaccine should not 
get another dose.
     Anyone who has a severe (life-threatening) allergy to any 
vaccine component should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if you 
have any severe allergies.
     People who are moderately or severely ill should usually 
wait until they recover before getting hepatitis A vaccine. If you are 
ill, talk to your doctor or nurse about whether to reschedule the 
vaccination. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.
     Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. The safety of 
hepatitis A vaccine for pregnant women has not been determined. But 
there is no evidence that it is harmful to either pregnant women or 
their unborn babies. The risk, if any, is believed to be very low.
4. What are the risks from hepatitis A vaccine?
    A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious 
problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of hepatitis A 
vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Getting 
hepatitis A vaccine is much safer than getting the disease.
    Mild problems:
     Soreness where the shot was given (about 1 out of 2 adults 
and up to 1 out of 5 children);
     Headache (about 1 out of 6 adults and 1 out of 20 
children);
     Loss of appetite (about 1 out of 12 children);
     Tiredness (about 1 out of 14 adults).
    If these problems occur, they usually last for 1 or 2 days.
    Severe problems:
     Serious allergic reaction, within a few minutes to a few 
hours of the shot (very rare).
5. What if there is a severe reaction?
    What should I look for?
     Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior 
changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty 
breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast 
heart beat or dizziness.
    What should I do?
     Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
     Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it 
happened, and when the vaccination was given.
     Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to report the 
reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) 
form.
    Or you can file this report through the VAERS Web site at https://
www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
    VAERS does not provide medical advice.
6. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
    In the rare event that you or your child has a serious reaction to 
a vaccine, a federal program has been created to help pay for the care 
of those who have been harmed.
    For details about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 
call 1-800-338-2382 or visit the program's Web site at https://
www.hrsa.gov/osp/vicp.
7. How can I learn more?
     Ask your doctor or nurse. They can give you the vaccine 
package insert or suggest other sources of information.
     Call your local or state health department.
     Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC):

--Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO)
--Visit CDC Web sites at: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis or https://
www.cdc.gov/nip.

    Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program.
    Vaccine Information Statement, Hepatitis A, (00/00/0000) 
(Proposed), 42 U.S.C. 300aa-26.

Interim and Proposed Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Information 
Statement

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine: What You Need to Know

1. Why get vaccinated?
    Influenza (``flu'') is a very contagious disease.
    It is caused by the influenza virus, which spreads from infected 
persons to the nose or throat of others.
    Other illnesses can have the same symptoms and are often mistaken 
for influenza. But only an illness caused by the influenza virus is 
really influenza.
    Anyone can get influenza. For most people, it lasts only a few 
days. It can cause:
     Fever;
     Sore throat;
     Chills;
     Fatigue;
     Cough;
     Headache;
     Muscle aches.
    Some people get much sicker. Influenza can lead to pneumonia and 
can be dangerous for people with heart or breathing conditions. It can 
cause high fever and seizures in children. Influenza kills about 36,000 
people each year in the United States, mostly among the elderly. 
Influenza vaccine can prevent influenza.

[[Page 43697]]

2. Inactivated influenza vaccine
    There are two types of influenza vaccine:
    An inactivated (killed) vaccine, given as a shot, has been used in 
the United States for many years.
    A live, weakened vaccine was licensed in 2003. It is sprayed into 
the nostrils. This vaccine is described in a separate Vaccine 
Information Statement.
    Influenza viruses are constantly changing. Therefore, influenza 
vaccines are updated every year, and an annual vaccination is 
recommended.
    For most people influenza vaccine prevents serious illness caused 
by the influenza virus. It will not prevent ``influenza-like'' 
illnesses caused by other viruses. It takes about 2 weeks for 
protection to develop after the shot and protection can last up to a 
year. Inactivated influenza vaccine may be given at the same time as 
other vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccine.
    Some inactivated influenza vaccine contains thimerosal, a 
preservative that contains mercury.
    Some people believe thimerosal may be related to developmental 
problems in children. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine published a 
report concluding that, based on scientific studies; there is no 
evidence of such a relationship. If you are concerned about thimerosal, 
ask your doctor about thimerosal-free influenza vaccine.
3. Who should get inactivated influenza vaccine?
    Influenza vaccine can be given to people 6 months of age and older. 
It is recommended for people who are at risk of serious influenza or 
its complications, and for people who can spread influenza to those at 
high-risk (including all household members):
    People at high risk for complications from influenza:
     All children 6-23 months of age.
     People 65 years of age and older.
     Residents of long-term care facilities housing persons 
with chronic medical conditions.
     People who have long-term health problems with:
--Heart disease;
--Kidney disease;
--Lung disease;
--Metabolic disease, such as diabetes;
--Asthma;
--Anemia, and other blood disorders.
     People with certain conditions (such as neuromuscular 
disorders) that can cause breathing problems.
     People with a weakened immune system due to:


--HIV/AIDS or other diseases affecting the immune system;
--Long-term treatment with drugs such as steroids;
--Cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs.

     People 6 months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin 
treatment (these people could develop Reye Syndrome if they got 
influenza).
     Women who will be pregnant during influenza season.
    People who can spread influenza to those at high risk:
     Household contacts and out-of-home caretakers of infants 
from 0-23 months of age.
     Physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone else in 
close contact with people at risk of serious influenza.
    Influenza vaccine is also recommended for adults 50-64 years of age 
and anyone else who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza.
    An annual flu shot should be considered for:
     People who provide essential community services.
     People living in dormitories or under other crowded 
conditions, to prevent outbreaks.
     People at high risk of flu complications who travel to the 
Southern hemisphere between April and September, or to the tropics or 
in organized tourist groups at any time.
4. When should I get influenza vaccine?
    The best time to get influenza vaccine is in October or November.
    Influenza season usually peaks in February, but it can peak any 
time from November through May. So getting the vaccine in December, or 
even later, can be beneficial in most years.
    Some people should get their flu shot in October or earlier:

--People 50 years of age and older,
--Younger people at high risk from influenza and its complications 
(including children 6 through 23 months of age),
--Household contacts of people at high risk,
--Healthcare workers, and
--Children younger than 9 years of age getting influenza vaccine for 
the first time.

    Most people need one flu shot each year. Children younger than 9 
years of age getting influenza vaccine for the first time should get 2 
doses, given at least one month apart.
5. Some people should talk with a doctor before getting influenza 
vaccine
    Some people should not get inactivated influenza vaccine or should 
wait before getting it.
     Tell your doctor if you have any severe (life-threatening) 
allergies. Allergic reactions to influenza vaccine are rare.

--Influenza vaccine virus is grown in eggs. People with a severe egg 
allergy should not get the vaccine.
--A severe allergy to any vaccine component is also a reason to not get 
the vaccine.
--If you have had a severe reaction after a previous dose of influenza 
vaccine, tell your doctor.

     Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barr[eacute] 
syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS). You may be able 
to get the vaccine, but your doctor should help you make the decision.
     People who are moderately or severely ill should usually 
wait until they recover before getting flu vaccine. If you are ill, 
talk to your doctor or nurse about whether to reschedule the 
vaccination. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.
6. What are the risks from inactivated influenza vaccine?
    A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious 
problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of a vaccine 
causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Serious problems 
from influenza vaccine are very rare. The viruses in inactivated 
influenza vaccine have been killed, so you cannot get influenza from 
the vaccine.
    Mild problems:
     Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given;
     Fever;
     Aches.
    If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and 
last 1-2 days.
    Severe problems:
     Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very 
rare. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after 
the shot.
     In 1976, a certain type of influenza (swine flu) vaccine 
was associated with Guillain-Barr[eacute] syndrome (GBS). Since then, 
flu vaccines have not been clearly linked to GBS. However, if there is 
a risk of GBS from current flu vaccines, it would be no more than 1 or 
2 cases per million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk 
of severe influenza, which can be prevented by vaccination.
7. What if there is a severe reaction?
    What should I look for?
     Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior 
changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include

[[Page 43698]]

difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, 
weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.
    What should I do?
     Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
     Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it 
happened, and when the vaccination was given.
     Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to report the 
reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) 
form.
    Or you can file this report through the VAERS Web site at https://
www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
    VAERS does not provide medical advice.
8. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
    In the event that you or your child has a serious reaction to a 
vaccine, a federal program has been created to help pay for the care of 
those who have been harmed. For details about the National Vaccine 
Injury Compensation Program, call 1-800-338-2382 or visit their Web 
site at https://www.hrsa.gov/osp/vicp.
9. How can I learn more?
     Ask your immunization provider. They can give you the 
vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
     Call your local or state health department.
     Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC):

--Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO)
--Visit CDC's Web site at https://www.cdc.gov/flu.

    Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program.
    Vaccine Information Statement, Inactivated Influenza Vaccine, (6/
18/05) (Interim), 42 U.S.C. 300aa-26.

Interim and Proposed Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine Information 
Statement

Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine: What You Need to Know

1. Why get vaccinated?
    Influenza (``flu'') is a very contagious disease.
    It is caused by the influenza virus, which spreads from infected 
persons to the nose or throat of others.
    Other illnesses can have the same symptoms and are often mistaken 
for influenza. But only an illness caused by the influenza virus is 
really influenza.
    Anyone can get influenza, but rates of infection are highest among 
children. For most people, it lasts only a few days. It can cause:
     Fever;
     Sore throat;
     Chills;
     Fatigue;
     Cough;
     Headache;
     Muscle aches.
    Some people get much sicker. Influenza can lead to pneumonia and 
can be dangerous for people with heart or breathing conditions. It can 
cause high fever and seizures in children. Influenza kills about 36,000 
people each year in the United States.
    Influenza vaccine can prevent influenza.
2. Live, attenuated influenza vaccine (nasal spray)
    There are two types of influenza vaccine:
    Live, attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) was licensed in 2003. 
LAIV contains live but attenuated (weakened) influenza virus. It is 
sprayed into the nostrils rather than injected into the muscle. It is 
recommended for healthy children and adults from 5 through 49 years of 
age, who are not pregnant.
    Inactivated influenza vaccine, sometimes called the ``flu shot,'' 
has been used for many years and is given by injection. This vaccine is 
described in a separate Vaccine Information Statement. Influenza 
viruses are constantly changing. Therefore, influenza vaccines are 
updated every year, and annual vaccination is recommended.
    For most people influenza vaccine prevents serious illness caused 
by the influenza virus. It will not prevent ``influenza-like'' 
illnesses caused by other viruses. It takes about 2 weeks for 
protection to develop after vaccination, and protection can last up to 
a year.
3. Who can get LAIV?
    Live, intranasal influenza vaccine is approved for healthy children 
and adults from 5 through 49 years of age, including most healthcare 
workers and household contacts of most people at high risk for 
influenza complications. However, LAIV should not be given to pregnant 
women or people with certain medical conditions.
4. Who should not get LAIV?
    The following people should not get live intranasal influenza 
vaccine. They should check with their health-care provider about 
getting the inactivated vaccine.
     Adults 50 years of age or older or children younger than 
5.
     People who have long-term health problems with:

--Heart disease;
--Kidney disease;
--Lung disease;
--Metabolic disease, such as diabetes;
--Asthma;
--Anemia, and other blood disorders.

     People with a weakened immune system due to:

--HIV/AIDS or other diseases affecting the immune system;
--Long-term treatment with drugs that weaken the immune system, such as 
steroids;
--Cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs.

     Children or adolescents on long-term aspirin treatment 
(these people could develop Reye syndrome if they get influenza).
     Pregnant women.
     Anyone with a history of Guillain-Barr[eacute] syndrome (a 
severe paralytic illness, also called GBS).
    Inactivated influenza vaccine (the flu shot) is the preferred 
vaccine for people (including health-care workers, and family members) 
coming in close contact with anyone who has a severely weakened immune 
system (that is, anyone who requires care in a protected environment).
    Some people should talk with a doctor before getting either 
influenza vaccine:
     Anyone who has ever had a serious allergic reaction to 
eggs or to a previous dose of influenza vaccine.
     People who are moderately or severely ill should usually 
wait until they recover before getting flu vaccine. If you are ill, 
talk to your doctor or nurse about whether to reschedule the 
vaccination. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.
5. When should I get influenza vaccine?
    The best time to get influenza vaccine is in October or November. 
Influenza season usually peaks in February, but it can peak any time 
from November through May. So getting the vaccine in December, or even 
later, can be beneficial in most years.
    Most people need one dose of influenza vaccine each year. Children 
younger than 9 years of age getting influenza vaccine for the first 
time should get 2 doses. For LAIV, these doses should be given 6-10 
weeks apart.
    LAIV may be given at the same time as other vaccines. This includes 
other live vaccines, such as MMR or chickenpox. But if two live 
vaccines are not given on the same day, they should be given at least 4 
weeks apart.
6. What are the risks from LAIV?
    A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious 
problems, such

[[Page 43699]]

as severe allergic reactions. However, the risk of a vaccine causing 
serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
    Live influenza vaccine viruses rarely spread from person to person. 
Even if they do, they are not likely to cause illness.
    LAIV is made from weakened virus and does not cause influenza. The 
vaccine can cause mild symptoms in people who get it (see below).
    Mild problems:
    Some children and adolescents 5-17 years of age have reported mild 
reactions, including:
     Runny nose, nasal congestion or cough;
     Headache and muscle aches;
     Fever;
     Abdominal pain or occasional vomiting or diarrhea.
    Some adults 18-49 years of age have reported:
     Runny nose or nasal congestion;
     Sore throat;
     Cough, chills, tiredness/weakness;
     Headache.
    These symptoms did not last long and went away on their own. 
Although they can occur after vaccination, they may not have been 
caused by the vaccine.
    Severe problems:
     Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very 
rare. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after 
vaccination.
     If rare reactions occur with any new product, they may not 
be identified until thousands, or millions, of people have used it. 
Over two million doses of LAIV have been distributed since it was 
licensed, and no serious problems have been identified. Like all 
vaccines, LAIV will continue to be monitored for unusual or severe 
problems.
7. What if there is a severe reaction?
    What should I look for?
     Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior 
changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty 
breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast 
heart beat or dizziness.
    What should I do?
     Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
     Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it 
happened, and when the vaccination was given.
     Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to report the 
reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) 
form.
    Or you can file this report through the VAERS Web site at https://
www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
    VAERS does not provide medical advice.
8. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
    In the event that you or your child has a serious reaction to a 
vaccine, a federal program has been created to help pay for the care of 
those who have been harmed.
    For details about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 
call 1-800-338-2382 or visit their Web site at https://www.hrsa.gov/osp/
vicp.
9. How can I learn more?
     Ask your immunization provider. They can give you the 
vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
     Call your local or state health department.
     Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC):

--Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO)
--Visit CDC's Web site at https://www.cdc.gov/flu.

    Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program.
    Vaccine Information Statement, Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine, 
(6/18/05) (Interim), 42 U.S.C. 300aa-26.

    Dated: July 22, 2005.
James D. Seligman,
Associate Director for Program Services, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 05-14924 Filed 7-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P