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Not enough flu vaccine available for priority groups

Precautions urged to avoid catching, spreading flu virus

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The Centers for Disease Control has determined that Georgia will receive 215,000 doses of the remaining flu vaccine for the rest of the flu season, according to the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

The state will fall well short of the needed 2 to 3 million doses needed to immunize all residents in the high risk categories, officials said.

Georgia’s allotment was reached after comparing the doses the state has already received with the estimates of how many Georgians are in the priority groups, officials said. Flu vaccine shipments are expected to arrive incrementally throughout December and January, officials said.

Meanwhile, the level of flu-like illness in Georgia is listed as being sporadic.

“Our goal is to evenly distribute the remaining vaccine across the state, and make as much vaccine available to as many members of the priority group as possible,” said Dr. Kathleen E. Toomey, director of the DHR Division of Public Health.

The Fayette County Health Department is asking persons in the high-risk category to call and get on the waiting list for the flu vaccine. As flu vaccine becomes available, persons on the list will be called to make an appointment to come in for vaccination.

Only persons in the high-risk category will be put on the waiting list, officials said. That category includes:

• Children ages 6 months to 23 months

• Adults ages 65 and over

• People older than 2 who have an underlying, long-term illness such as heart disease, lung disease, metabolic disease (like diabetes), kidney disease, a blood disorder or a weakened immune system, including persons with HIV/AIDS.

• Women who will be pregnant during the flu season

• People between 6 months and 18 years old who take aspirin daily

• People who have or take care of a baby under 6 months old.

More than 300 vaccinations were distributed at the health department Saturday, and another flu clinic is planned for Tuesday, which will be on an invitation-only basis as persons are called off the waiting list to make an appointment.

Anyone who is not in a high-risk flu category is asked to check with their physician about taking the Flu Mist vaccine if they are between ages 5 and 49 and in good general health.

Callers are also advised to take the pneumonia vaccine if they haven’t had it previously or if they are under 65 and it has been at least five years since their last pneumonia vaccine, or if it is recommended by their physician. Pneumonia is one of the most deadly consequences of the flu, officials said.

Those who don’t receive the flu vaccine this year are encouraged to use good handwashing habits, eat a healthy diet, get adequate sleep and avoid ill persons and crowds when possible to avoid getting the flu.

Already, residents in Fayette’s nursing homes and participants in the senior day program have been vaccinated. A second round of vaccines have been distributed to those who are “highly immune,” such as compromised patients in hospital settings, chemotherapy patients and staff, and dialysis patients and staff, health department officials said.