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October
20, 2004
Little Rock-- The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) will begin flu vaccination clinics statewide November 3, 2004, for high-risk groups. Clinics in each county will open at 8 a.m.; clinic sites are still being determined and will be announced soon.
When clinic sites are determined, local health unit staff will notify the media in each county to publicize the sites and the hours of operation for each clinic.
“The agency is also activating a hotline and website so the public will be able to access the latest information on the flu vaccine in Arkansas,” Dr. Fay Boozman, agency director, said. The website will explain who is eligible to receive the vaccine based on the current shortage. It will also list the times and locations for each clinic once identified and detail what Arkansans can do to reduce the risk of getting or transmitting the flu.
Active at noon today, the hotline number is 800-651-3493; the website is www.healthyarkansas.com/flushots.htm.
The ADH has determined that the flu vaccine will be in limited supply for the 2004-05 flu season as a result of the national vaccine shortage. Because of the shortage, local health units will be giving influenza vaccinations to high-risk groups only. If you are not in a high-risk group, you will not be eligible to receive vaccine.
High-risk groups include:
- People 65 years of age and older
- Children ages 6 months to 23 months
- Adults and children 2 years of age and older with chronic lung or heart disorders including heart disease and asthma
- Pregnant women
- 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
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- Children and teenagers, 6 months – 18 years of age, who take aspirin daily
- Health-care workers involved in direct, hands-on care to patients and
- 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:
- Persons with a severe allergy (i.e., anaphylactic allergic reaction) to chicken eggs and
- Persons who previously had onset of Guillain-Barre syndrome during the six weeks after receiving influenza vaccine.
Everyone can help prevent the spread of influenza by taking action:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Whenever possible, stay home from work, school or errands when you
are sick
- Wash your hands with soap often
- Use a hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
- If you smoke, try to quit. You are more susceptible to upper-respiratory disease when you smoke.
If you’re sick, don’t spread your germs to others:
- Cover your mouth and nose with your hand, sleeve or a tissue every time you sneeze or cough
- Put used tissue into the trash
- 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.
- In the home, frequently clean surfaces that are touched often (phone, remote control, door knobs, etc.) with antibacterial soap or spray
- 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.
Health Department officials will continue to monitor the vaccine situation and provide regular updates to the public as new information becomes available.
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