Welcome to Skagit County

September 27th, 2004

VACCINATE BABIES, ELDERLY, HIGH-RISK CHILDREN AND ADULTS AGAINST FLU EARLY

Colder weather is just around the corner and with it comes the flu season. Catching the flu may result in fever, cough, and a few days lost from work or school. At its worst, flu can lead to pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death. The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination every fall. The Skagit County Health Department urges everyone, especially people at high risk, to get vaccinated starting in October.

Influenza can strike anyone, but it is especially dangerous for young children and the elderly who are at greater risk for complications from the flu. Every year an average of 36,000 people in the United States die from flu-related illness and 200,000 people are hospitalized. According to County Health Officer Howard Leibrand, M.D., "These are unnecessary deaths. Vaccination will help reduce your risk of getting the flu, and reduce the severity of the flu if you get it."

Those at high-risk for complications from the flu include anyone 65 or older; all children from 6-23 months of age; and children and adults with chronic medical conditions, including lung or heart conditions, diabetes, renal dysfunction, or suppressed immune systems. Also at high-risk are residents of long-term care facilities, children receiving long-term aspirin therapy, women who will be pregnant anytime during the flu season, and health-care providers. It is also important that anyone living with or caring for a high-risk person should also be vaccinated against the flu.

Children from birth to six months of age have an extremely high rate of complications from the flu. Anyone living with or caring for children in this age group should be vaccinated against the flu. This is especially important since these children are too young to be vaccinated.

Flu vaccine should be plentiful as manufacturers are making more doses this year than ever before. The Department of Health has ordered the maximum amount of flu vaccine allocated to the state by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; this is expected to be twice as much flu vaccine as was received in the 2003-2004 flu season. The Department of Health will distribute this vaccine to local health departments beginning in early October.

The Washington State Department of Health provides flu vaccine for children less than 19 years of age who are high-risk or are household contacts of a high-risk person. Although the vaccine is provided to the patient at no cost, providers normally charge an office visit or administration fee. For adults, many insurance carriers, including Medicare Part B, cover the flu vaccine - check with your insurance carrier for details.

If you have questions about the flu vaccine or to find out where to get a flu vaccination, call your health care provider or your local health department at (360) 419-3329. Additional information on influenza vaccine is available on the Department of Health influenza web site, www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/flu_updates.htm , and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention influenza web site, www.cdc.gov/flu.

To search for clinic sites and times you may check our hot line at 419-3315 or
Search www.getaflushot.com or www.findaflushot.com

Skagit County Health Dept. flu hotline 419 -3315

Contact: {Amie Tidrington, Immunization Clinic Coordinator 419-3329}