Beginning immediately, about 14.2 million doses of vaccine will be allocated

over the next 6-8 weeks through Aventis Pasteur contracts directly to high-priority

vaccine providers, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing

homes, and private providers who care for young children.

"This plan will help ensure that vaccine gets to those people who

need it most," said CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding. "This is

a troubling, frustrating situation for all of us and we need for all Americans

to pull together in the weeks to come to meet this challenge head on. This

plan is the result of unprecedented collaboration between CDC, Aventis Pasteur,

and state and local health departments across the country. And we must not

forget the other public health heroes on the front lines in grocery stores,

pharmacies, and health clinics working to prioritize vaccine."

CDC will continue to work with Aventis Pasteur and state and local health

departments to identify people, by region, on the vaccination priority list.

The approximately 8.2 million doses remaining after the first phase is completed

will be shipped to other high-need areas.

"Since Dr. Gerberding contacted us last week, we at Aventis Pasteur

have worked with the CDC around the clock to tackle the complex task of getting

millions of doses of influenza vaccine to thousands of health care providers

around the country. Our goal has been to direct remaining doses as quickly

as possible to those areas where large numbers of at-risk individuals are

in need," said Damian Braga, president, Aventis Pasteur US. "It

is a huge logistical feat and we are proud to have contributed our knowledge

and expertise to this plan."

Last week CDC announced priority groups for vaccination with inactivated

influenza vaccine for the 2004-2005 influenza season:

- All children aged 6-23 months.

- Adults aged 65 years and older.

- Persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical

conditions.

- All women who will be pregnant during influenza season.

- Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

- Children 6 months-18 years of age on chronic aspirin therapy.

- Health-care workers with direct patient care.

- Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged 6

months and under.

Influenza season typically peaks in the United States between December

and March. Because each season is unpredictable, it's not known how severe

the 2004-2005 season might be.

Although vaccination is the best protection against influenza, everyone

can take practical steps to help prevent spread of flu, such as avoiding

close contact with people who are sick and keeping your distance from others

if you're sick; when possible, staying home from work, school, and errands

when you are sick; covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing,

and cleaning your hands often.

For more information about the flu and this year's recommendations, visit

www.cdc.gov/flu .