Fallon Clinic Makes FluMist and Other Flu Treatments Available to Patients.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

WORCESTER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 23, 2003

With injectable vaccine supply depleted, Fallon Clinic secures

alternate means to help prevent spread of flu virus

Fallon Clinic, a community-based physician group practice in central Massachusetts, today announced that it will immediately make alternative flu treatments, including the prescription drugs Amantadine and Rimantadine and FluMist(TM) - a nasal flu vaccine - available to its patients. Fallon Clinic has already administered approximately 40,000 doses of injectable flu vaccine, which is in short supply nationwide.

"As community healthcare advocates, we are considering all alternatives to keep our patients healthy and flu-free," said Dr. Michael Kelleher, Fallon Clinic's Chief Medical Officer. "We are just beginning to see influenza cases here in central Massachusetts, which is a little earlier than the past several years. This particular strain of influenza has proven less responsive to the injectable vaccine. By providing the FluMist alternative, in the absence of an injectable vaccine, we hope to significantly curb any potential widespread flu epidemic among Fallon Clinic patients."

FluMist, sometimes referred to as an LAIV for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine, is a new flu vaccine that was licensed in 2003. It is different from the injectable influenza vaccine (i.e., the "flu shot") because it contains weakened live influenza viruses instead of killed viruses and is administered by nasal spray instead of injection. The FluMist inhaled vaccine is indicated for healthy individuals between the ages of five and 49. Both the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta have endorsed the use of FluMist and have posted information on their websites.

"This proactive approach to managing what promises to be a challenging flu season is another example of Fallon Clinic's commitment to improving patient service in healthcare," said Craig Samitt, MD, Chief Operating Officer for Fallon Clinic. "With flu shots simply no longer available, we are proud to be one of the first physician organizations in central Massachusetts to offer the FluMist alternative to our patients who are concerned with their health and the health of their families."

Because the FluMist and Amantadine/Rimantadine treatments require health screenings and physician prescriptions, Fallon Clinic can only offer these treatments to its current patient population.

As a result of its recently announced multi-payor initiative, Fallon Clinic now accepts a number of insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Community Health Plan (beginning January 1, 2004), Fallon Community Health Plan, Private Healthcare Systems, CIGNA HealthCare, and others.

About Fallon Clinic

Founded in 1929 by Dr. John Fallon and a team of local physicians, Fallon Clinic was central Massachusetts' first group practice, marking a fundamental shift in the delivery of patient care. As one of the most dynamic and progressive healthcare organizations in the country today, Fallon Clinic continues to challenge convention and transform patient care paradigms, and has set out to establish a new "gold standard" in patient care.

With 240 physicians practicing in 26 locations staffed by nearly 1,700 employees, Fallon Clinic provides comprehensive care for more than one million patient visits a year, and is the largest private, multi-specialty group in central Massachusetts. Nationally recognized as a leader in healthcare quality, the Clinic is currently implementing key initiatives and technologies that ensure patients receive both the finest medical care and the highest levels of access and service.

FluMist is a trademark of Wyeth.