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For immediate release: December 14, 2004 (04-140)
Contacts:
Tim Church, Communications Office 360-236-4077
Donn Moyer, Communications Office 360-236-4076
Many Washington children still need flu shot – there is still time and vaccine
OLYMPIA ¾ The Department of Health is asking parents and health care providers to ensure that high priority children receive an influenza vaccination. Although there has been a nationwide shortage of adult flu vaccine, the agency has received 202,000 doses of flu vaccine for high priority children under 19 and over 46,000 doses are still available.
"Influenza is especially dangerous for young children and the elderly, who face a high risk of serious complications from the flu," said State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes. "It’s important to protect them against the flu by making sure children ages 6 to 23 months and children with a chronic medical condition are vaccinated."
The Department of Health provides flu vaccine for children ages 6-23 months; children 2 to19 years who have underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease; and children under 19 who are household contacts of infants less than six months. This vaccine is distributed to local health departments that either administer it themselves or distribute it to health care providers in their communities.
Getting a flu shot in January or later is still effective as flu season may not peak until February or March. So far this season influenza activity has been low across the United States and is below average in Washington. Since there is no way to predict how the rest of flu season will go, the best protection is to vaccinate as many high-priority people as possible and ensure that all available doses are used.
"It’s important to understand that it’s not too late for high priority people to get an influenza vaccination," Hayes says. "More vaccine is now available, and the lines and the hassle that were common when the shortage was first announced have greatly decreased."
"This flu season, the Department of Health provided more vaccine for children than ever before and still has thousands of doses in inventory designated for high priority kids," said Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. "It’s important to protect these kids. The vaccine is available, and all it takes is for parents and health care providers to make it happen."
If you have questions about flu vaccine or want to know where to get a flu shot, call your health care provider or your local health department. Parents can find a nearby childhood immunization by calling the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies information and referral line at 1-800-322-2588. People in high priority groups can check the American Lung Association Web site (http://www.findaflushot.com/lungusa) to find nearby health care providers offering flu vaccines.
The Immunization Program Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/flu_updates.htm) provides additional information on flu vaccine and a list of high priority populations.
People who do not get a flu shot because they don’t belong to a high priority group can still protect themselves and help prevent the spread of disease simply by practicing good health manners (http://www.doh.wa.gov/FluNews/#materials). The Department of Health Web site (http://www.doh.wa.gov/) offers the "Good Health Manners" fact sheet online in six additional languages, including Spanish, Russian and Korean.
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