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	Cabinet for Health Services
	Flu Shots Urged For High Risk Individuals

Press Release Date:	Dec. 8, 2003
Contact:	Gwenda Bond or Gil Lawson, 502-564-6786

STATEWIDE NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Gwenda Bond or Gil Lawson (502)564-6786 FLU SHOTS STILL AVAILABLE FOR KENTUCKIANS, DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH URGES HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS TO GET SHOTS FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 8, 2003) The announcement Friday that nationwide supplies of the influenza vaccine are dwindling has prompted Kentucky health officials to recommend that people with a high risk of developing complications from the flu be immunized as soon as possible. Individuals should contact their local health department or medical provider to locate available vaccine. Kentucky’s flu season started about two months earlier than usual this year, with 31 cases of influenza in 13 counties confirmed by the state lab, and regional flu activity reported today to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which means outbreaks of influenza or flu-like illness and recent laboratory confirmed influenza in at least two but less than half the regions of the state. The DPH is working to assess the availability of vaccine in the state and from vaccine distributors. "Because of increased demand, those people who are at highest risk of having serious complications as a result of getting the flu and have not yet gotten a flu shot should receive a vaccination at their doctor’s office or local health department as soon as possible," said Dr. Rice Leach, Public Health Commissioner. The Department for Public Health issued the following three recommendations on how to proceed with flu vaccination efforts in a letter to local health departments on Friday: · Vaccination efforts should focus on persons 50 years of age and older, persons 6 months to 49 years of age with certain medical conditions that place them at increased risk for influenza-related complications, children 6 months through 23 months of age, pregnant women, health care workers, and household contacts of persons at high risk. · Influenza vaccination of persons at high risk for complications from influenza and their close contacts should be provided routinely during regular health care visits or as part of mass vaccination clinics. Routine influenza vaccination activities in clinics, offices, hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care settings should proceed as normal with limited available vaccine. · Provider-specific contingency plans for increased demand should be developed. All influenza vaccine providers, including health care systems and organizers of vaccine campaigns, should develop plans to maximize vaccination of high risk individuals and health care workers. It is vital that the public health and health care system protect those at highest risk before initiating general influenza vaccine programs. A full list of those considered high risk for getting the flu and developing complications can be found at CDC’s website here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvac.htm For healthy persons ages 5 to 49 the new nasal flu vaccine mist is another option of protection for the flu season. Greater supplies of nasal flu vaccine exist. Other, simple steps available to everyone can also protect against flu. Frequently washing hands and avoiding touching the nose, eyes, and mouth will help people avoid transmitting or getting the flu or other respiratory infections, like a cold. -30-