Press Release Details

MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 2002--

Influenza Vaccine Stakeholders Address Key Issues For 2002-2003 Influenza Season

Addressing key concerns for the 2002-2003 influenza season, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently convened an Influenza Vaccine Summit.

Henry Schein Inc. (Nasdaq:HSIC), the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners in the combined North American and European markets, was one of the key summit participants that met to discuss policies and procedures to help maximize the distribution and utilization of this year's flu vaccine supply.

In a departure from previous summits, five working groups were formed in advance to address key influenza issues. These working groups were charged with studying the key issues and providing information and/or recommendations for the summit participants to discuss and respond to. The working groups were formed around the following subjects: communications, reimbursement, vaccine distribution, mass vaccination and occupational health and business.

Summit participants included members of the AMA and CDC, as well as various representatives from government organizations, non-governmental organizations, physician groups, mass immunizers, influenza vaccine manufacturers and influenza vaccine distributors. Henry Schein was one of the influenza vaccine distributors to attend the summit and participate in the communications, vaccine distribution and mass vaccination working groups.

"We are pleased to be part of the AMA/CDC Influenza Vaccine Summit working groups and applaud these organizations for bringing together the various stakeholders in the influenza vaccine community," said John Trizzino, Vice-President of Business Development, Henry Schein Medical Group, who represented Henry Schein at the summit. "As the largest distributor of flu vaccine in the United States, participating in this summit and continuing to work with these various stakeholders is another way for us to honor our ongoing commitment to meeting the demand for influenza in the 2002-2003 influenza season."

The AMA/CDC Influenza Summit was held in Atlanta, Georgia, May 22-23. Participants heard recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP); findings from CDC surveys on providers' and consumers' experiences with the influenza vaccine; manufacturers' perspectives and updates from each of the five working groups.

For more information on the 2002-2003 influenza vaccine supply and to place an order for influenza vaccine, physicians are encouraged to call (800) 772-4346 to speak with a Henry Schein representative. Orders can also be placed through the Company's Web site at www.henryschein.com. To review the CDC recommendations, please log on to http://www.cdc.gov/nip/Flu/Bulletins_200203/bulletin_1.htm.

About Henry Schein, Inc.

Recognized for its excellent customer service and low prices, Henry Schein serves more than 400,000 customers worldwide, including dental practices and laboratories, physician practices and veterinary clinics, as well as government and other institutions.

The Company operates its four business groups - Dental, Medical, International and Technology - through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 125 countries with a comprehensive selection of over 80,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products. Henry Schein also offers a wide range of innovative value-added practice solutions, including such leading practice management software systems as DENTRIX(R) and Easy Dental(R), for dental practices, and AVImark(R) for veterinary clinics, which are installed in over 44,000 practices; and ArubA(R), Henry Schein's electronic catalog and ordering system.

Headquartered in Melville, New York, Henry Schein employs over 6,500 people in 16 countries. The Company's 2001 sales reached a record $2.6 billion. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.

CONTACT: Henry Schein, Inc., Steven Paladino, 631/843-5500 or
Susan Vassallo, 631/843-5562, svassa@henryschein.com