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January
19, 2005
Little Rock--About 9,500 doses of Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) flu vaccine are now available to all Arkansans statewide through their local health units.
“The demand by high-risk groups for the vaccine has dropped off statewide, said Charles Beets, ADH Communicable Diseases/Immunizations Work Unit Leader, adding that the flu season can last through or beyond the end of March and it is not too late to receive a shot. “Given the drop in demand by high-risk groups and with just under three months remaining this season, we want to make the 9,500 doses available to the general public.”
Beets said that of the 237,500 ADH doses, about 21,000 shots remain from the federally funded Vaccines for Children program. These shots are available to qualified children who meet the high-risk criteria and are not currently available to the general public.
Under the guidance of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the ADH targeted high-risk Arkansans for vaccination since starting its vaccination drive on November 3 of last year based on an expected shortage of the vaccine. The agency made Arkansas public health history when it coordinated clinics in each of the 75 counties and vaccinated over 53,000 residents statewide in one day.
When demand from high-risk groups started to wane, the ADH expanded high-risk groups on December 21 to include caregivers and household contacts of persons in high-risk groups. “While we have never tracked the number of high-risk recipients versus the general public, I think it is safe to say that we have vaccinated more high-risk Arkansans than ever before,” Beets said.
The 9,500 doses consist of about 6,200 adult doses and 3,300 pediatric doses. Given the limited demand for children’s shots, the agency will offer its 3,300 remaining pediatric doses to anyone three years of age or older. Since anyone three or older will require two shots to match the adult dosage, the 9,500 available adult doses reflect 3,300 pediatric doses divided by two.
High-risk groups for the Vaccines for Children program include:
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Children and adolescents age 2 through 18 years who are residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
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Children and adolescents 6 months through 18 years of age, who take aspirin daily
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Children and adolescents age 2 through 18 years who are household members and out-of home caregivers of high-risk individuals
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Children ages 6 months to 23 months
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Children and adolescents age 2 through 18 years with chronic lung or heart disorders including heart disease and asthma
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Pregnant adolescents age less than 19 years
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Children and adolescents age 2 through 18 years with chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes), kidney diseases, blood disorders (such as sickle cell anemia), or weakened immune systems, including persons with HIV/AIDS
Everyone can take action to help prevent the spread of influenza by doing the following:
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick and keep your distance from others if you’re sick
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Whenever possible, stay home from work, school or errands when you are sick
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Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and
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Wash your hands with soap often.
Arkansans should contact their Local Health Unit to determine availability of the vaccine in their area.
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