KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - In response to the national influenza (“flu”) vaccine shortage, Public Health - Seattle & King County today is invoking a health order to direct who may receive the vaccine to ensure continued high level of compliance with vaccination guidelines.
“This order is one more tool to help us make sure the influenza vaccine is getting to those at highest risk for complications from the flu,” said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director and Health Officer of Public Health - Seattle & King County. “We are directing health care providers and other vaccinators to only provide influenza vaccine to those at high risk.”
Public Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified eight groups at high risk of flu complications and who should receive influenza vaccination:
- all children aged 6-23 months
- adults aged 65 years and older
- persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions
- all women who will be pregnant during influenza season
- residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- children 6 months -18 years of age on chronic aspirin therapy
- health-care workers with direct patient care
- out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less than 6 months
During the last week and since the announcement of the flu vaccine shortage, Public Health -Seattle & King County has been speaking with hospitals, nursing homes and commercial vaccine providers to take inventory of the local vaccine supply. Public Health has found that locally many providers of the influenza vaccine have little or no vaccine, but there are places where individuals at risk for complications from the flu may receive their flu shots.
People should check first with their health care provider for vaccine availability. If people fall into a high risk group and their health care provider does not have vaccine, they may check: www.findaflushot.com
Based on information from the CDC and Aventis, additional influenza vaccine will be distributed throughout the country in coming weeks. Patients should therefore be persistent and continue to check with their health care providers about the availability of influenza vaccine. Public Heath will share updated information on new vaccine supply locally as it becomes available.
Vaccine for high-risk children
Public Health does receive pediatric flu vaccine through the federal Vaccines for Children program for use at Public Health centers and by local health care providers. Starting next Monday, October 18, Public Health will be offering flu vaccine for high-risk children at its Public Health centers. For information about Public Health centers and hours, call the Public Health hotline at 206-296-4949 or visit: www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/fluseason.htm. People should call to make an appointment.
The Vaccines for Children program that subsidizes the cost of children’s vaccines at most health care clinics now includes funding for flu vaccine for certain children in the following categories:
- all children from 6 - 23 months of age
- children from age 24 months through 18 years who meet high-risk criteria
- children through 18 years of age who are household contacts or caregivers of infants 0 - 6 months of age
Besides contacting Public Health, families may want to check with their clinic or physician about this program.
Health order
The health order, based on the Revised Code of Washington, is intended to help health care providers, vaccinators and the public maximize compliance with prioritized administration of available influenza vaccine to persons at highest risk for serious influenza infection. The order establishes a requirement to immunize only persons in the CDC priority groups, and it formalizes and enhances efforts to identify and reallocate available vaccine in the County.
Wash hands, cover cough
Public Health recommends to all members of the public that there are other ways to minimize your risk for getting the flu:
- avoid close contact with other people who have respiratory infections and colds
- stay home from work and school and avoid contact with other people when you are ill
- cover your coughs and sneezes with tissue
- wash hands or use an alcohol-based hand gel frequently and after touching your nose and mouth
If you do develop an illness, contact your health care provider for advice about possible evaluation or treatment.
Influenza season usually peaks between November and March, and since each flu season is different, it is not possible to predict how the 2004-5 flu season will be.
