Press Release
DECEMBER 5th, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
Contact: Lindsay
Hodges
PHONE:850-245-4111 |
TALLAHASSEE-Florida
Department of Health (DOH),
in accordance with Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)
recommendations, is
encouraging high-risk
individuals and health care
workers to be given priority
for ongoing vaccination
efforts. Today, the CDC
announced an unusually
strong consumer demand for
influenza vaccine and are
working with vaccine
manufacturers, medical
professionals, and others to
assess the status of the
current flu vaccine supply
in the United States.
"It is clear that a great number of folks have heard the call
and protected themselves
against influenza by
receiving the flu shot," DOH
Secretary of Health John O.
Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A.,
said. "We encourage all to
get vaccinated, but it is
important to take care of
Florida's most vulnerable
first - - our elderly, our
sick, and our youngest."
This year, Florida Department of Health county health
departments received more
than 275,000 doses of flu
vaccine, an increase of over
40 percent from the number
of Floridians vaccinated by
DOH last year. In a typical
year, 70-75 million
Americans receive a flu
shot. This year
manufacturers produced
approximately 83 million
doses of flu vaccine. The
United States has never used
more than 80 million doses
of flu vaccine in a season.
High-risk individuals who
should be vaccinated against
influenza include:
-
Persons 50 years and
older;
-
Residents and employees of
nursing homes and other
long-term care facilities
that house persons of any
age who have long-term
illnesses;
-
Persons 6 months of age
and older who have chronic
heart or lung conditions,
including asthma; or need
regular medical care; or
had to be in a hospital
because of metabolic
diseases (like diabetes),
chronic kidney disease, or
weakened immune system
(including immune system
problems caused by
medicine or by infection
with HIV/AIDS;
-
Children and teenagers 6
months to 18 years who are
on long-term aspirin
therapy and therefore
could develop Reye
syndrome after the flu;
and
-
Women who will be more
than 3 months pregnant
during the flu season.
Health care workers and
additional individuals who
should be vaccinated
include:
-
Doctors, nurses, and other
employees in hospitals and
doctors' offices,
including emergency
response workers;
-
People who provide home
care to those in high-risk
groups; and
-
Household members
(including children) of
people in high-risk
groups.
-
Children aged 6 to 23
months and caregivers of
children younger than 6
months are also encouraged
to receive flu shots
because children younger
than 24 months may be at
higher risk for
complications from
influenza.
For healthy persons, simple
steps can be taken to
protect against flu.
Frequently washing hands and
avoiding touching the nose,
eyes, and mouth will help
avoid transmitting or
getting the flu or other
respiratory infections, like
a cold.
Precautionary measures
include:
-
Clean your hands often
with soap and water or an
alcohol-based hand
cleaner.
-
Avoid touching your eyes,
nose, or mouth.
-
Avoid close contact with
people who are sick, if
possible.
-
Do not share eating
utensils, drinking
glasses, towels or other
personal items.
-
Stay home when you are
sick.
-
After coughing or
sneezing, always clean
your hands with soap and
water or an alcohol-based
hand cleaner.
-
Cover your nose and mouth
with a tissue every time
you cough or sneeze. Throw
used tissue away. If you
don't have a tissue,
sneeze or cough into your
sleeve.
For more information about
influenza and steps to
protect individuals and
families, visit
www.cdc.gov.
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