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Public Health
Seattle & King County
401 5th Ave., Suite 1300
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-296-4600
TTY Relay: 711
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Immunization Program
Influenza vaccine recommendations for the
2007-2008 flu season
| A law passed in 2006 in Washington requires that children under 3 years and pregnant women must be given only thimerosal-free vaccine. More information about this law. Single-dose prefilled syringes are thimerosal-free and are available in the dosage for children age 6 months through 35 months and for children three years and older and adults at Public health clinics and some other providers in King County. |
Why is flu vaccine important?
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Influenza is a very contagious illness that strikes millions of Americans each year, with pneumonia as the most common complication in high-risk groups. Influenza, unlike the common cold, has a swift onset of severe symptoms beginning with two to seven days of fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, runny nose and sore throat, and a cough that is often severe and may last seven days or more. Information about influenza disease in
King
County
will be updated at 206-296-4949 and on our website at www.metrokc.gov/health as the season progresses.
Public Health - Seattle and King County has begun receiving shipments of influenza vaccine and will continue to receive shipments through the end of December. This year, flu vaccine manufacturers plan to have over 130 million doses of influenza vaccine available for distribution in the United States.
When and where can you get vaccinated against the flu?
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Public Health – Seattle & King County clinics will accept appointments for flu vaccination beginning October 8, 2007. October and November are the optimal months for people to receive influenza vaccine, however vaccination efforts will continue through December and into January, as long as vaccine supplies are available. People should get flu vaccine even after influenza activity has started in the community. For the 2007–08 influenza season, vaccine supplies are projected to be plentiful in the United States; therefore, influenza vaccination can proceed for all persons, whether healthy or at high risk, either individually or through mass campaigns, as soon as vaccine is available.
People should get flu vaccine even after influenza activity has started in the community. This year, the CDC has not recommended prioritization of flu shots for individuals at high risk for complications from the flu, so all persons who would like to be protected from the flu will be able to request flu vaccine.
» Public Health Immunization Clinic locations
» Find a flu shot clinic (including dates and times) near you
Following is a list of providers who will be giving flu shots this season. For specific locations, dates and times for flu shots available near you, contact these providers directly.
Two flu vaccines are available this year:
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The traditional injectable flu vaccine which contains inactivated (killed) virus, is licensed for anyone age six months and older. Some patients experience soreness at the injection site lasting less than two days, but serious side effects from this vaccine are extremely rare. This vaccine may come in a multiple-dose vial or in single-dose prefilled syringes. Single-dose prefilled syringes are thimerosal-free and are available in the dosage for children age 6 through 35 months and for age three years and older.
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| 2. |
A live attenuated (weakened) virus vaccine (LAIV or “FluMist”) that is sprayed into the nose (intranasal) is licensed for healthy people aged 2 through 49 years. A small amount of vaccine is sprayed into each nostril, instead of getting an injection. Intranasal vaccine will be available at Public Health clinics and some clinics outside Public Health will also have the intranasal vaccine available.
LAIV is a good option for flu protection for people aged 2 through 49 years who are healthy and not, pregnant, including health care workers and household contacts or caregivers of people in high-risk groups. LAIV may also be considered for persons providing essential community services and persons living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions to prevent outbreaks
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Both the injectable and intranasal flu vaccine formulations include protection against A/Solomon Island/3/2006 (H1N1)-like, A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like and B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like antigens.
Costs
The fee for flu vaccine at Public Health -
Seattle & King
County
clinics is $25.00 for the flu “shot” and $33.00 for the intranasal flu vaccine. Pneumococcal vaccine is $39.00. All of these vaccines are available on a sliding scale based on income. Costs vary for flu and pneumococcal vaccines through other providers. Flu and pneumococcal vaccines are covered by Medicare Part B. If you have Medicare coverage and belong to a managed care plan or HMO, you should go to your regular health care provider to receive your vaccine.
The federal and state funded Vaccines for Children program subsidizes the cost of children’s vaccine at most health care clinics. This program now includes funding for flu vaccine for all children ages 6 months through 18 years of age. Families may want to check with their clinic or physician about this program.
Primary Updates in the 2007 Recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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- CDC reemphasizes the importance of administering 2 doses of vaccine to all children aged 6 months--8 years if they have not been vaccinated previously at any time with either the intranasal spray or injectable vaccine. Doses should be separated by at least 4 weeks.
- CDC recommends that children aged 6 months--8 years who received only 1 dose in their first year of vaccination receive 2 doses the next flu season in which they receive flu vaccine.
Who should get flu vaccine?
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People who should receive flu vaccine include those at risk of complications if they get influenza disease, and adults and children who live, work, or may come in contact with people at high risk. These groups specifically include:
- All children 6-59 months of age
- All persons 50 years of age and older
- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
- Adults and children with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, (except hypertension) lung disease (including asthma), kidney disease, liver disease or diabetes
- Children and adolescents (aged 6 months--18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy, to prevent the risk of Reyes’ syndrome;
- Adults and children with weakened immune systems due to HIV/AIDS or other diseases affecting the immune system, long term treatment with drugs such as steroids or cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
- Adults and children who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders or neurological disorders that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or increase risk of aspiration
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions
In addition, to prevent transmission to persons identified above, flu vaccine is also recommended for:
- Healthy household contacts (including children) and caregivers of children aged 0--59 months and persons at high risk for severe complications from influenza
- Health care workers
Persons who should not be vaccinated with FluMist (LAIV)
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- Adults 50 years and older or children less than 24 months of age (children younger than 6 months cannot get either LAIV or the injectable flu vaccine)
- Persons with long term health problems (i.e. heart, lung, kidney, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, anemia and blood disorders)
- Persons with known or suspected immunodeficiency diseases or who are receiving immunosuppressive therapies
- Children or adolescents receiving aspirin or other salicylates (because of the association of Reye syndrome with wild-type influenza infection)
- Persons with history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- Pregnant women
- Persons with a history of hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis) to any of the components of LAIV or to eggs
- Persons with asthma or active wheezing. Children less than 5 years of age with recurrent wheezing.
For more information about FluMist, go to www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm
Although vaccination is the best method for preventing and reducing the impact of influenza, antiviral medications are a valuable adjunct. For patients who consult a healthcare provider within 48 hours of illness onset, antiviral medications can reduce the duration of illness and might reduce the likelihood of complications. It also can be used to prevent influenza in persons who have not received vaccine and to control outbreaks in institutions or group residential settings such as nursing homes.
Important Reminder:
Persons at high risk for influenza-related complications may also need immunization against pneumococcal pneumonia. This vaccine is given only once in a lifetime for most people, with a one-time revaccination recommended for people with certain medical conditions. For information about the pneumococcal vaccine, go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-ppv.pdf.
This is also a good time to check your immunization record for the date of your last tetanus-diphtheria (or Td) booster. Tdap, a vaccine that provides protection against pertussis (whooping cough) in addition to providing protection against tetanus and diphtheria, was licensed in September, 2005. Tdap is available for anyone 11-64 years old who has not had a Td booster in at least 2 years. This can be given during the same visit in which you receive flu vaccine. For information about the Tdap vaccine, go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-tdap.pdf
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quick clicks
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 Flu info for Health Care Providers
Information including latest news, links, recommendations, facts.
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 Vaccines for Children
Vaccines for Children (VFC) was established in 1993 to remove the barriers of cost and access to attaining childhood immunizations.
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 Stop Germs, Stay Healthy! Learn about respiratory etiquette, watch public service announcements, play the "Catch That Cough!" game and get free posters.
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 Disease Fact Sheets
Facts and FAQs about reportable diseases in Washington State including publications and reports.
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