| November
18, 2002
Little Rock --
The
Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) will be offering
free flu shots for the residents of Baxter County
November 21, 2002 from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Baxter
County Fairgrounds Complex.
The flu vaccination clinic is part of a
bioterrorism preparedness drill and will simulate a mass
smallpox vaccination clinic.
Baxter County is the first county in Arkansas to
conduct this type of exercise.
The
purpose of the exercise is to evaluate county plans for
responding to a post bioterrorism event in a public site
other than the health department.
According to Baxter County ADH Administrator
Richard Taffner, “As a result of the clinic/exercise,
Baxter County residents will be immunized for the flu
and better prepared in the event of a bioterrorism
threat.”
The
clinic/exercise is the result of planning efforts by the
Baxter County Hometown Health Improvement Project, which
includes:
-
Baxter
County Office of Emergency Management
-
Baxter
Regional Medical Center
-
Baxter
County Sheriff’s Office
-
Mountain
Home Police Department
-
Mountain
Home Christian Clinic
-
Red
Cross/White River Baptist Association
-
County
Judge Joe Bodenhamer
-
County
Medical Officer Kevin Adkins
-
Arkansas
Department of Health, Baxter County
-
Local
medical community
-
Local
media
-
Community
at large
ADH
is providing up to 10,000 doses of flu vaccine for the
clinic/exercise. The
Baxter County health department usually delivers
approximately 3,500 doses of flu vaccine in a season.
Participants
should park at the west gate of the county fairgrounds.
Due to high traffic flow, residents are asked to
carpool, if possible.
Flu
season usually starts in Arkansas in late December and
runs through March.
Although the health department is encouraging all
individuals to participate in the free clinic to receive
their flu vaccine, certain groups who are at high risk
for getting the flu are particularly encouraged to get
their flu shot. High-risk
groups who would most benefit from the vaccine include:
- Persons
aged 65 and above;
- Residents
of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
that house people with chronic medical conditions;
- Adults
and children who have chronic disorders of pulmonary
or cardiovascular systems, including asthma;
- Adults
and children who require regular medical follow-up
or hospitalization during the preceding year because
of chronic metabolic diseases including diabetes,
renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies and
immunodeficiency caused by medications or HIV/AIDS;
- Children
and teenagers (six months – eighteen years) who
are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and,
therefore, may be at risk for developing Reye
Syndrome after influenza infection;
- Women
who will be in the second or third trimester of
pregnancy during the flu season;
- Persons
who can transmit the flu to those at high risk
(health care workers, employees of nursing; homes
and chronic care facilities, employees of assisted
living and other residences for persons in high-risk
groups and household members (including children) of
persons in high-risk groups.
The
only contraindication to receiving a flu vaccination is
if an individual has had a severe allergic reaction to
eggs.
Representatives
from the media are asked to park at the west gate of the
county fairgrounds and ask for Jennifer O’Neal to
provide a tour and interviews regarding the event.
County and state officials will be available for
comment.
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