Abstract
Modern vaccines-including influenza vaccine-provide a uniquely powerful and cost-effective way to prevent deadly communicable diseases from spreading. Unfortunately, since the last decade of the 20th century, influenza vaccine supply and distribution problems have steadily grown worse in the United States. Supply disruptions such as delayed deliveries or shortages have occurred in 5 of the last 6 years, hindering efforts to combat a disease that every year kills about 36,000 people and sends more than 200,000 to hospital. Universal influenza recommendations may be one means of resolving our nation's recurring influenza vaccine supply and distribution crises.