For immediate release: October 9, 2007 (07-173)

Contacts:
Donn Moyer, Communications Office 360-236-4076
Michele Roberts, Immunization Program CHILD Profile 360-236-3720

OLYMPIA ¾ Influenza vaccine should be plentiful for the upcoming season as more doses are expected than ever before. Some vaccine has already arrived in Washington and shipments will continue in the coming weeks. The challenge will be to use it all, and everyone can do their part by getting vaccinated.

Flu immunization rates are alarmingly low for children and adults. Washington rates are 22.8 percent for young children and 72.4 percent for adults over age 65 — slightly above the national average but below national and state goals of 90 percent. National data show that just 40 percent of physicians and other health care workers get vaccinated, which helps protect their patients.

Every year an average of 36,000 people in the United States die from flu-related illness and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized. "Flu vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease," says Secretary of Health, Mary Selecky. "You protect yourself from flu by getting vaccinated, and that protects your family and friends, too."

Everyone can benefit from an annual flu shot, and for many people it’s crucial. This includes young children, pregnant women, anyone over age 50, and people of any age with a chronic condition like diabetes, heart disease or asthma. Residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities and people living with or caring for a high risk person, including health care providers, should also be vaccinated.

The Department of Health provides flu vaccine for children under 19 who are high risk, are household contacts of a high risk person, and any child who wants to be vaccinated as supply permits. The agency has ordered more than 355,000 doses — a record order for the state. Local providers will be receiving shipments over the next several weeks. The state vaccine is provided to the patient at no cost; however, health care providers usually charge an office visit or administration fee. Adults should consult with their insurance carriers to check on coverage for flu vaccine.

People are urged to use their regular health care providers for immunizations. For help finding an immunization clinic, call the Family Healthy hotline at 1-800-322-2588, or your local health agency (www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/LHJMap.htm). Adults can also check the American Lung Association Flu Shot Locator (http://flucliniclocator.org/).

The Department of Health Flu News Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/FluNews/) provides additional information on flu vaccine.

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