By the end of January 2010 [1], the coverage of adults ranged from 8.7% to 34.4% (Fig. 2). States varied in their

approaches to Vandetanib concentration implementing their H1N1 vaccination programs in an unprecedented situation. While the literature addressed factors related to uptake of seasonal influenza vaccine at the individual level [12] and [13], states and regions used their best judgment and knowledge of their jurisdictions to guide their decisions on distribution and system design, given the lack of scientific evidence in that area. The purpose of this study was to determine supply chain and system factors associated with H1N1 coverage rates at the state-wide level for adults in order to inform selleck kinase inhibitor future events of this nature. We hypothesized that characteristics of the vaccine supply chain in each state and decisions around targeting vaccine could predict uptake. One classic supply

chain study, for example, has demonstrated that a product stocked in a large number of locations increases the probability that a particular location will be stocked out, and may also reduce the distance traveled by the final consumer [14]. Some of these characteristics of the state vaccine supply included the number of locations where vaccine was available, prioritization of the ACIP-recommended target groups, the type of providers to whom vaccine was directed, and the lead-time between vaccine allocation and availability in a state, which largely reflects differences in states’ ordering processes. Because other factors affect uptake, as evidenced by state-to-state variation in seasonal influenza coverage and individual-level studies [15], [16], [17] and [18], underlying population differences such as demographic characteristics, utilization of preventive health services, and healthcare infrastructure were also examined. It is relevant to mention that individual-level studies differ from those with a regional or ecological view. Others have used this

Dipeptidyl peptidase ecological approach in the analysis of other health-related problems such as water fluoridation and tooth decay [19] and [20]. Data from the centralized distribution system on vaccine shipments from October 5, 2009 through December 9, 2009 were made available for analysis, thus allowing us to focus the analysis on the period during which vaccine was in short supply. We examined the relationship between state vaccination rates in persons 18 and over with variables covering population and health-related state characteristics and state-specific vaccination campaign information. The outcome measure is state estimates of vaccination coverage, as calculated by the CDC [1]. Participants 18 and over on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and National H1N1 Flu Survey (NHFS) were asked if they had received an H1N1 vaccine during October 2009–January 2010.