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October
18, 2004
Little Rock --
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is determining the quantity of influenza vaccine available for the 2004-2005 flu season.
“The Health Department is working with health professionals statewide to assess vaccine supplies and use them as wisely as possible,” Dr. Fay Boozman, ADH director, said.
The Health Department is conferring with hospitals, physicians and other health providers to determine the number of doses available in the private sector. The ADH has 107,500 doses. Of those, approximately 45,000 doses will be provided to nursing homes statewide. The department is working with the Arkansas Hospital Association and private providers to balance the supplies. They will also determine how the at-risk public and those professionals involved in direct, hands-on patient care will be vaccinated.
The ADH vaccine supply will be distributed to local health unit offices around the first week of November. When local health units have vaccine available for use, they will notify local media to publicize dates and times when immunizations will be available.
As a result of the national vaccine shortage, local health units will be giving influenza vaccinations to high-risk groups only. If you are not in a high-risk group category, you will not be eligible to receive vaccine.
High-risk categories include:
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People 65 years of age and older
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Children ages 6 months to 23 months
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Adults and children 2 years of age and older with chronic lung or heart disorders including heart disease and asthma
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Pregnant women
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Adults and children 2 years of age and older with chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes), kidney diseases, blood disorders (such as sickle cell anemia), or weakened immune systems, including persons with HIV/AIDS
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Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
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Children and teenagers, 6 months – 18 years of age, who take aspirin daily
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Health-care workers involved in direct, hands-on care to patients and
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Household members and out-of home caregivers of infants under the age of 6 months (children under the age of 6 months cannot be vaccinated).
Persons who should not receive influenza vaccine for health reasons include:
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Persons with a severe allergy (i.e., anaphylactic allergic reaction) to chicken eggs and
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Persons who previously had onset of Guillain-Barre syndrome during the six weeks after receiving influenza vaccine.
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
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Whenever possible, stay home from work, school or errands when you are sick
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Wash your hands with soap often
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Use a hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
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If you smoke, try and quit. You are more susceptible to upper-respiratory disease when you smoke.
If you’re sick, don’t spread your germs to others:
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Cover your mouth and nose with your hand, sleeve or a tissue every time you sneeze or cough
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Put used tissue into the trash
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Wash your hands with soap and water and use paper towels instead of cloth towels in your bathroom. Throw used paper towels into the trash.
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In the home, frequently clean surfaces that are touched often (phone, remote control, door knobs, etc.) with antibacterial soap or spray
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Stay home.
Currently, there is no licensed vaccine available in the United States except the vaccine provided by Aventis Pasteur. The Arkansas Department of Health is working with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office to alert consumers and health providers about vaccine pricing and source concerns. You may report suspicious pricing practices or vaccine sources to the Attorney General’s Office at (501) 682-2341 or (800) 482-8982.
For more information, click on www.healthyarkansas.com or
www.CDC.gov and click on influenza. Also you can call the CDC Immunization Hotline at 1-800-232-2522 (English) or 1-800-232-0233
(Espanol)
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