Delays, vaccine
shortages expected
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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