Important Update About the Flu

and This Year’s Influenza Vaccine Shortage !

(This information is from the Federal Government’s

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated October 2004)

Almost half of the nation's flu vaccine will not be delivered this year. Chiron, a major manufacturer of flu vaccine, will not be distributing any influenza vaccine this flu season. Chiron was to make 46-48 million doses vaccine for the United States.

Because of the vaccine shortage, CDC is changing its guidance about who should get vaccinated this season.

Who should be vaccinated?

The existing flu vaccine supplies should be given to protect people who are at greatest risk from serious complications from influenza disease.

Everyone in this group should seek vaccination:

• People 65 years of age and older
• Children ages 6 months to 23 months
• Adults and children 2 years of age and older with chronic lung or heart disorders including heart disease and asthma
• Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
• Adults and children 2 years of age and older with chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes), kidney diseases, blood disorders (such as sickle cell anemia), or weakened immune systems, including persons with HIV/AIDS
• Children and teenagers, 6 months to 18 years of age, who take aspirin daily
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities
• Household members and out-of-home caregivers of infants under the age of 6 months (Children under the age of 6 months cannot be vaccinated.)
• Healthcare workers who provide direct, hands-on care to patients

Who should go without vaccination?

Healthy people 2 to 64 years of age are asked to postpone or skip getting a flu shot this year so that available vaccine can go to protect those at greater risk for flu complications.

What else can you do to prevent the spread of flu?

There are certain good health habits that can help prevent the spread of flu.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from other to protect them from getting sick too.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze – and dispose of the tissue afterward.
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
• Wash your hands after you cough or sneeze – with soap and warm water, or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

If you get the flu, stay home from work or school. You will help prevent others from catching

What if you are in a high risk group and your clinic has no vaccine?

Contact your local health department and ask your regular vaccine provider about other options for influenza vaccination.

Health departments throughout the United States are trying to make sure that as many high-risk people as possible will eventually be able to go to either their regular vaccine provider or a flu shot clinic to get the vaccine.

Some public vaccination clinics may also be posted at www.lungusa.org

For more information about The Flu or Flu Shot, please click on the link below or call 1-888-347-7855

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

Thank you, NexCare Collaborative.