VAN BUREN/CASS COUNTY

NEWS RELEASE

 FROM:                        Suzanne Bailey, R.N., B.S.N.

                                    Director of Nursing

SUBJECT:                  Flu/Pneumonia Vaccine

 DATE:                         September 30, 2005

 RELEASE DATE:       For Immediate Release

 The Van Buren/Cass District Health Department has scheduled flu/pneumonia vaccine clinics at various locations in our counties during October and November.  Sufficient supplies of flu vaccine should be available during the coming influenza season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that everyone wanting to get a flu shot to avoid influenza, regardless of age or health status, should be able to get vaccinated when vaccine becomes available in October.

The CDC strongly recommends influenza vaccination as soon as vaccine is available for any person who is 6-months old or older and is at increased risk for complications from influenza. Those at highest risk for complications from influenza include people 65-years old and older, those  with chronic, long-term health problems such as heart or lung disease, kidney problems, diabetes, asthma, anemia, HIV/AIDS or any other illness that suppress the immune system. CDC also recommends vaccination for people age 50 to 64 years because this group has an increased prevalence among those with high risk conditions. In addition, healthcare workers and others in close contact with those at high risk should be vaccinated in order to reduce the possibility of transmitting influenza to those at high risk.

Because young children also are at increased risk of influenza-related complications, vaccination of children 6 to 23 months old, their household contacts and out-of-home caregivers are encouraged to be vaccinated against influenza.

Influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its severe complications.  Thus, many people who are not in high risk groups may also decide to be vaccinated. 

The best time to be vaccinated against influenza continues to be October and November.  However, vaccination in December or later can still be beneficial. Immunity develops over the 10-14 days after receiving the influenza vaccination.

Influenza causes approximately 36,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations each year.   More than 90 percent of deaths occur among people age 65 and older.

 The influenza vaccination season is an excellent time for people to evaluate whether they also need a pneumonia vaccination.  The pneumonia vaccination reduces a person's risk of developing bacterial pneumonia.  Those recommended to receive the pneumonia vaccination include:

          All healthy adults age 65 and over.

          Adults age 50 and over who request vaccination and who are at increased risk of pneumococcal disease or its complications because of chronic illnesses (e.g., cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, cirrhosis, or cerebrospinal fluid leaks).

          Various other indications upon a physician's order. 

Revaccination with the pneumonia vaccine should be considered for those 65 years and older who were vaccinated before they were 65, if 5 or more years have passed since the first dose.

This year the health department's influenza and pneumonia vaccination clinics will be held as follows:

Van Buren County Public Health Department

2005 Public Flu and Pneumonia Clinics

Please, phone to schedule your flu & pneumonia vaccine so that we can avoid everyone arriving at the same time and creating long waiting lines.

 Cass County Public Health Department

2005 Public Flu and Pneumonia Clinics

 Please, phone to schedule your flu & pneumonia vaccine so that we can avoid everyone arriving at the same time and creating long waiting lines. 

 Rev: 09-28-05, 10-04-05

Send mail to georgek@vbcassdhd.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 10/19/05