Henry Schein Benefits From Counsel of Influenza Vaccine Expert; Noted Geriatrician, Janet McElhaney, M.D., to Focus On Influenza Vaccination Education
Among other responsibilities, she will help advise the Company as it works in support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) plan to increase vaccination by encouraging late season vaccination.
"As a physician committed to the care and treatment of the elderly, I have studied and observed first-hand the life-saving benefits that influenza vaccine offers, especially in older, 'higher-risk' patients," said Dr. McElhaney. "The CDC has reported that influenza is the most vaccine-preventable disease we know of today. Not taking advantage of the industry's full supply of flu vaccine would be a tremendous mistake."
According to the CDC, 20,000 people die from flu-related complications each year, and more than 90 percent of these deaths are in persons 65 years and older. There also are over 110,000 hospitalizations each year that are directly attributable to influenza. Despite this, the CDC reports that last year approximately 10 million doses of influenza vaccine were never distributed to the marketplace due to late manufacturers' shipments and releases of the vaccine, in addition to an unknown amount that sat unused by physicians in their offices.
CDC guidelines recommend that elderly patients, who are at "high risk" of developing complications or possibly dying from influenza, have higher priority to receive their vaccination than the rest of the population. According to Dr. McElhaney, other patients who fall into the "high-risk" category include people who suffer from coronary artery disease or chronic obstructive lung disease, like asthma, those who have been recently hospitalized, or those who have had numerous visits to a physician's office.
"Dr. McElhaney is a thought leader in this area, and we are pleased to have the benefit of her counsel," said Michael Racioppi, RPh, President, Medical Group, Henry Schein, Inc. "She has conducted extensive research, written about and lectured on vaccination and the elderly, and focused specifically on immunology and aging as it relates to the influenza vaccination. We will work with Dr. McElhaney throughout the influenza season to encourage physicians who care for 'high-risk' populations to order their influenza vaccine now, pre-schedule their 'high-risk' patients in October and November, and ensure they receive the vaccine first."
Dr. McElhaney underscored the clinical benefits of receiving the flu vaccine from October through January, saying that it should continue to be offered to "high-risk" patients who may have missed being vaccinated earlier in the season. She also noted the clinical importance of late-season flu vaccination for those not "high risk." Though not commonly practiced, the CDC has recommended vaccine administration to the healthy population later in the season - after Thanksgiving and through January.
For more information on the 2002-2003 influenza vaccine supply and to place an order, 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 see www.cdc.gov.
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 6,700 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
Susan Vassallo, 631/843-5562
svassa@henryschein.com
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