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CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
URGES
CALIFORNIANS TO GET IMMUNIZED AGAINST THE Flu |
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SACRAMENTO, October 2, 2007
–
Dr. Mark Horton, director
of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today
urged Californians
who want protection from the flu to get immunized in order
to prevent sickness, hospitalization and health
complications resulting from the flu.
“This
year we are anticipating a plentiful supply of influenza
vaccine,” Horton said. “Flu season is soon approaching, and
it’s time to schedule flu vaccination for you and your
family members.”
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
CDPH recommend that the following groups receive
vaccinations:
-
Adults
aged 50 and older.
-
All women
who will be pregnant during influenza season.
-
Children 6
months to 5 years of age.
-
Residents
of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
-
Healthcare
workers with direct patient care. New law requires acute
care hospitals to offer vaccine to all employees free of
charge.
-
Individuals with underlying chronic medical conditions.
-
Individuals who live with or care for an elderly and a
child less than 5 years of age.
Children
younger than 9 years of age getting a flu vaccine
for
the first time will need two doses of
vaccine. Healthy individuals ages 2 to 49 can now receive
the nasal-spray flu vaccine, also known as Flumist®.
“Flu can be especially dangerous for young
children, seniors, pregnant women and people with chronic
illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes or asthma,” Horton
said. “Getting vaccinated against the flu can help reduce
absences from school and work. “
Every year, more than 225,000 people are
hospitalized and more than 35,000 die in the United States
due to influenza and its complications.
To stop the
spread of influenza and other respiratory illnesses, Horton
encouraged Californians to take the following basic steps:
-
Stay home
when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to co-workers
and friends.
-
Cough or
sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of
used tissues.
-
Wash your
hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and
avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
-
Stay
healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of
water and getting adequate rest and exercise.
Horton also
reminded parents and caregivers to use acetaminophen or
ibuprofen instead of aspirin when treating fever and aches
in children and teenagers. Aspirin has been linked to Reye’s
syndrome, a rare childhood disease which can lead to coma,
brain damage and even death.
For information about low- and no-cost flu vaccines,
consumers should contact their local health departments.
For more information about the flu, visit CDPH
Immunization Branch Website at:
www.GetImmunizedCA.org.
To find a
flu clinic, visit the American Lung Association Web site at:
www.FluClinicLocator.org.
FLU
VACCINE ORDER
|
State-Purchased |
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Doses Ordered TOTAL |
561,850 |
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Doses shipped 9/11 |
265,300 |
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|
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Doses shipped 10/1 |
156,730 |
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Federal Purchase (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention)
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Vaccines For Children Program |
General Federal Funds |
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Flu
Mist |
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Doses allocated to CA |
907,000 |
|
45,000 |
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Doses available in inventory |
210,250 |
|
0
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This
season’s vaccine contains protection against three influenza
strains:
1)
A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like
(new for this season),
2)
A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like
3)
B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like antigens.
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