Article Category:
Research Article

Yellow Fever Vaccine Administration at Global TravEpiNet (GTEN) Clinics during a Period of Limited Vaccine Availability in the United States, 2017–2018

Allison Taylor Walker Travelers’ Health Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

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Mark D. Gershman Travelers’ Health Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

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Sowmya R. Rao Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;
Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts;

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Regina C. LaRocque Travelers’ Advice and Immunization Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts;

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Edward T. Ryan Travelers’ Advice and Immunization Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts;
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts;
Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

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for the Global TravEpiNet Consortium
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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.19-0859
Volume/Issue:
Volume 104: Issue 3
Page(s):
1079–1084
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ABSTRACT

In 2016, Sanofi Pasteur (S-P) experienced a manufacturing disruption of YF-Vax, the only U.S.-licensed yellow fever vaccine depleting the U.S. supply by mid-2017. Sanofi Pasteur received approval to import Stamaril, S-P’s French-manufactured yellow fever vaccine, for use in 260 U.S. civilian clinics under an Expanded Access Program (EAP). The CDC also broadened its yellow fever vaccination indication in early 2018. Our objective was to assess usage at participating Global TravEpiNet (GTEN) clinics, a U.S. CDC–supported national consortium of clinical sites that administer vaccines, during this period of limited availability and changing recommendations. We analyzed 2012–2018 GTEN data for yellow fever vaccine usage, unavailability, and reasons for refusal. We also performed a brief voluntary survey of GTEN sites to better understand their experience during the shortage. YF-Vax unavailability at certain GTEN clinics was intermittent and recurrent, starting months before total depletion. Unavailability at GTEN clinics peaked weeks before the total depletion. Compared with historic norms, yellow fever vaccine usage following initial vaccine availability limitations did not change until vaccine recommendations were broadened. Refusal of recommended yellow fever vaccine also decreased during this period. Queried sites participating in the EAP felt their supply of vaccine was adequate. Our analysis suggests that in response to depletion of a travel vaccine, an EAP can make an unlicensed product available, patients will participate in such a program, and the program can respond to expanding recommendations for vaccine usage.

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Author Notes

Address correspondence to Allison Taylor Walker, Travelers’ Health Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., MS V18-2, Atlanta, GA 30333. E-mail: eie7@cdc.gov

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. CDC.

Financial support: The GTEN Consortium is supported by U.S. CDC Grant U01CK000490.

Authors’ addresses: Allison Taylor Walker and Mark D. Gershman, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, E-mails: eie7@cdc.gov and dvj8@cdc.gov. Sowmya R. Rao, Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, E-mail: srrao@mgh.harvard.edu. Regina C. LaRocque, Travelers’ Advice and Immunization Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, E-mail: rclarocque@mgh.harvard.edu. Edward T. Ryan, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, Travelers’ Advice and Immunization Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, E-mail: etryan@mgh.harvard.edu.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2021
Received:
19 Nov 2019
|
Accepted:
20 Nov 2020
|
Published Online:
18 Jan 2021
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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