| OCR Text |
Show Flu Vaccine Supply Will Be Limited For 2000-01 Season PANGUITCH Influenza vaccine manufacturers have informed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to expect nationwide delays for the 2000-01 season. It appears that a limited amount of vaccine will be available during October and November with some shipments arriving in December. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) is urging all Utah health care providers who provide flu vaccines to ensure that high-risk patients receive vaccination according to the following priorities as recommended by CDC. First Priority to receive available flu vaccine are those individuals at highest risk of complications and death from influenza, which are the following: Nursing home or institutionalized patients. Individuals with chronic disease or immunosuppression ages 6 months - 65 years and older. General population age 65 and older Second Priority to receive available flu vaccine in the following order: Health care workers with direct patient contact Household contacts of chronically ill or immunosuppressed patients Pregnant women in 2nd and 3rd trimester Third Priority to receive available flu vaccine in the following order: Critical community workers (police, fire, public works, teachers) Population age 50 and older Foreign travelers General work force General population (stay at home) During fall 2000, vaccination of people in the first priority group should proceed routinely during regular health care visits as vaccine becomes available. Health care providers,, health organizations, commercial companies, and other organizations planning organized influenza vaccination campaigns for the general population are being asked to delay these campaigns until late November. Community level discussions are encouraged to develop vaccine contingency plans based on the above priority recommendations and available community vaccine supplies. Influenza vaccine should be offered to unvaccinated persons throughout the entire flu season to prevent missed opportunities and avoid wastage of vaccine. The peak of influenza cases occurs in February 70 percent of the time, so vaccine received in December or January would be effective if this is a typical year. The UDOH further recommends that providers and the public keep in mind that influenza and pneumonia vaccine are recommended for many of the same people. Pneumonia vaccine is given year round and is usually given just once in a lifetime. However, some people with certain chronic illnesses may need a second dose five years after the first dose. |
