Wednesday, September 6, 2000

Flu Season 2000-01:

Children and teenagers (aged six months to 18 years) who are receiving long term aspirin therapy and therefore might be at risk for developing Reye syndrome after influenza infection;
Women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season;
Health care workers who have close contact, and family members who live with/care for persons at high risk for complications from influenza.
Exactly what the department will be able to do beyond providing vaccine for

high-risk persons is uncertain, said Grant.
"It is not certain wether we will be able to hold a week-long walk-in clinic as we normally do, nor can we schedule on-site flu clinics with the industries and schools," she said.
"We will keep the community informed as more information becomes available," she added.
Watch The Citizen for the dates and times for the department's flu clinics as the information becomes available.
For information on the Health Department, visit the department web site, www.fayettecountyhealthdepartment.com.

Worried about the flu?
Be prepared for a shortage of vaccine this year.
According to the Fayette County Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta has notified local departments that shipments of vaccine will be delayed this year for two reasons: 1) a poor growing season for a plant component of the vaccine has slowed production; 2) two of the four manufacturers licensed to distribute the vaccine in the U.S. are facing regulatory actions from the federal Food and Drug Administration.

"Upon contacting the pharmaceutical company that supplies our influenza vaccine, we were advised not to expect shipment of the vaccine until mid to late October," said Cynthia Grant, RN, public health nurse for the Health Department.
Flu clinics normally are provided by the Health Department in late September or early October, but will be delayed until mid to late November, she said. And the department is making plans to ensure that Fayette residents who are at high risk from influenza are vaccinated in the event of a severe shortage.

Those considered to be at highest risk from the flu are:
Persons over age 65;
Adults and children aged six months and older who are immunosuppressed (i.e. long-term steroid treatment, chemo or radiation treatment for cancer, or HIV/AIDS or other diseases of the immune system);
Adults and children six months and older with serious long-term illnesses (diabetes, heart and/or lung disease, kidney disease, asthma, anemia and other blood disorders);

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