8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 5, 2004

HENRY SCHEIN, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-27078	11-3136595
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation)

135 Duryea Road Melville, New York	11747
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (631) 843-5500

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS.
	ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
EX-99.1: PRESS RELEASE

ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS.

     On October 5, 2004, Henry Schein, Inc. issued a press release disclosing its revised guidance for 2004 earnings per diluted share as a result of the announcement by Chiron Corporation stating that Chiron will not supply Fluvirin® influenza vaccine for the current influenza season. Attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.1 is the press release.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

     (c) Exhibit 99.1 – Press Release dated October 5, 2004.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	HENRY SCHEIN, INC.
Date: October 5, 2004	By:	/s/ Michael S. Ettinger
		Name:	Michael S. Ettinger
		Title:	Secretary, Vice President and General Counsel

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release dated October 5, 2004

EX-99.1

FOR:	Henry Schein, Inc.
CONTACT:	Steven Paladino
	Executive Vice President and
	Chief Financial Officer
	(631) 843-5500
	steven.paladino@henryschein.com
	Susan Vassallo
	Director, Investor & Public Relations
	(631) 843-5562
	susan.vassallo@henryschein.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HENRY SCHEIN REVISES 2004 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE BASED ON
CHIRON’S FLUVIRIN ANNOUNCEMENT

MELVILLE, N.Y. October 5, 2004 – 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, today revised guidance for 2004 earnings per diluted share. The Company is issuing this guidance as a result of the press release issued today by Chiron Corporation (Nasdaq: CHIR) stating that Chiron will not supply Fluvirin® influenza vaccine for the current influenza season. Henry Schein is the primary distributor of Fluvirin to the U.S. market.

     Henry Schein’s revised guidance for 2004 earnings per diluted share is $3.01 to $3.07. The Company expects third quarter 2004 diluted EPS of $0.69 to $0.71, and fourth quarter 2004 diluted EPS of $0.83 to $0.87. This revision from the Company’s previously issued guidance reported on August 27, 2004 is solely attributable to today’s Chiron announcement. Henry Schein reiterated its confidence in the strength of its overall business.

     The Company added that earlier this year it was named exclusive distributor of the nasally administered FluMist® vaccine, manufactured by MedImmune (Nasdaq: MEDI). MedImmune expects to have available more than one million doses of FluMist this season.

     Henry Schein notes that today the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued interim recommendations for influenza vaccination this season. The Company refers healthcare providers and the general public to these guidelines, available at www.cdc.gov/flu.

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About Henry Schein

     Henry Schein, a Fortune 500® company, is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company’s four business groups—Dental, Medical, International and Technology—serve more than 450,000 customers worldwide, including dental practices and laboratories, physician practices and veterinary clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company’s sales reached a record $3.4 billion in 2003. The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 125 countries with a comprehensive selection of over 90,000 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® and Easy Dental® for dental practices, and AVImark® for veterinary clinics, which are installed in over 50,000 practices; and ArubA®, Henry Schein’s electronic catalog and ordering system.

     Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs more than 9,000 people in 16 countries. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.

     Certain information contained herein includes information that is forward-looking. The matters referred to in forward-looking statements may be affected by the risks and uncertainties involved in the Company’s business. These forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

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