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November
2, 2005
Little Rock --
This year’s flu vaccine should be in ample supply to meet the needs of our population in Arkansas, according to Dr Sandra Snow, Medical Director for the Immunization Section at the Arkansas Department of Heath and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Health (DOH). Influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent contracting the flu and its severe complications. Every year, roughly 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths occur in the United States from influenza disease.
“This year we expect to receive approximately 218,300 doses of vaccine, which is more than was available from the DOH last year. By the end of this week, we will have flu vaccine available in every county health unit in the state,” Snow said. The flu season usually starts in mid-December and lasts through March, but you can get the flu at any time of the year if you are exposed to the live virus that causes it.
The best time to be vaccinated against influenza is late October and November. Vaccine usually becomes effective approximately two weeks after it is administered. Anyone over 6 months of age can receive influenza vaccine that does not have a severe allergy to eggs or has reacted to a previous dose.
“This year we plan a variety of different types of vaccination clinics around the state, which should make it easier for folks to get their shots in time to be protected from the flu,” Snow says. Local Health Units (LHUs) in every county will have shots available. The flu shot will cost $15.00 for anyone not enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, or are Vaccines For Children eligible.
Those most at risk for influenza disease complications are: children 6 months through 23 months of age those in nursing homes; individuals over 50 years of age; persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lung, and kidneys, or who have diabetes, asthma, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia; women who will be pregnant during flu season; and children and teens on long-term aspirin therapy.
Health care workers should also be vaccinated for influenza since they are at risk for passing influenza infection on to high-risk individuals.
“There is one myth that we’d like to dispel here—you can’t catch the flu from a flu shot. The vaccination uses a dead virus, and cannot cause you to get the flu,” Snow says.
“Every year we have folks who claim that the shot gave them the flu, but in all likelihood they were infected before or shortly after they received the shot. It takes two weeks for the shot to become effective as protection from the flu, but then it offers the best protection you can get if you follow the rules of respiratory hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and avoiding people who are ill,” Snow says. “People who are ill should stay home until they have recovered, to avoid spreading the virus.”
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