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December 01, 2008

CDHD Promotes National Influenza Vaccination Week

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated the week of December 8-14, 2008, as National Influenza Vaccination Week. The Central District Health Department (CDHD) is recognizing this event to highlight the importance of continuing influenza (flu) vaccination, as well as fostering greater use of flu vaccine through the months of December, January and beyond.

This year, Tuesday, December 9th, is designated as Children's Vaccination Day. Thursday, December 11th, is designated as Seniors' Vaccination Day, and Friday, December 12th, will focus on vaccination of health care workers. CDHD will continue to offer walk-in Flu Clinics at its Boise office, 707 N Armstrong Place, Boise through National Influenza Vaccination Week, or you can contact your health care provider.

Children

Flu takes a big toll on young children. Each year in the United States an average of 20,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized because of flu-related complications. As many as 1 in 5 children under age 5 may have to see the doctor, visit the Emergency Room or other urgent care for treatment for flu. And tragically, around 100 children die from this serious disease each year.

That is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children older than 6 months get vaccinated against the flu. CDC also recommends that close contacts, especially family members and caregivers, of children younger than 5 get a flu vaccine each year to provide added protection to this high-risk group.

Children under 6 months are too young to receive the flu vaccine, but they are among the most vulnerable to developing serious, even fatal, complications from flu. This makes vaccination of their close contacts especially critical.

Seniors

For people 65 years and older, the flu can be much more serious, even deadly. People in this age group are at high risk of serious flu complications because they have weaker immune systems, making them more vulnerable to illnesses such as flu.

Each year in the U.S., an average of 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized from serious flu complications. Ninety percent of flu deaths and more than half of hospitalizations occur in people 65 years and older. However, about 30% of persons 65 or older don’t get vaccinated each year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging people 65 years and older to get their annual flu vaccine. While vaccination is important for all age groups, it is particularly important for people 65 and older. Those who have chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or cancer, should be especially proactive in getting an influenza vaccine this year.

Health Care Professionals

Statistics show that fewer than half (41.8 percent) of all health care workers were vaccinated against the flu during the 2005-2006 influenza season. In an era of nursing staff shortages and mandatory overtime, nurses may be heaping additional responsibilities on their co-workers when stricken with flu and unable to work.

But there is a quick and easy fix for this problem: a flu vaccine. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend that all health care professionals who work directly with patients get an annual influenza vaccination. Because flu illness is caused by flu viruses that change constantly and the vaccine is updated every year, annual vaccination is needed for protection to remain current.

At CDHD an incentive program has been set up to encourage all health district employees to get the annual flu vaccination. To date the program has improved district-wide vaccination rates to 82%, nearly doubling the national average for health care workers.

Flu Facts

The flu is a contagious disease that can cause symptoms such as high fever, sore throat, headache, coughing, tiredness and muscle aches, and can easily spread from person to person. Worst of all, the flu may result in major health complications such as a deterioration of pre-existing health conditions, bacterial pneumonia and dehydration.

Vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting yourself and the people you love against this serious disease. After getting the vaccine, the body takes about two weeks to build up immunity to the flu viruses in the vaccine. This is why getting the vaccine is recommended as soon as it becomes available in your community, continuing into December, January, and beyond. While flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time flu activity peaks in January or later.

The flu vaccine is safe and effective, and because the three influenza viruses in the flu shot are killed, you cannot get the flu from the vaccine. Since flu viruses change every year, the flu vaccine is updated annually, making it necessary to be vaccinated each year.

At CDHD the cost of the regular influenza vaccination for individuals 19 years of age and older is $28. FluMist is $36. Children’s flu vaccine is subject only to the $14.34 administration fee. Payment is expected at time of service – this includes Medicaid patients.

To get vaccinated against seasonal influenza, contact your doctor or the Central District Health Department, 327-7450. Information is also available on our website: The CDC also has flu information available at 1-800-CDC-INFO or by visiting the website.