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RODERICK L. BREMBY, SECRETARY |
K A N S A S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT |
KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, GOVERNOR |
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KANSAS TO CONDUCT FLU-X EXERCISES IN OCTOBER
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), along with ten county health departments (12 clinic sites), is organizing a series of exercises designed to assist local health department officials to exercise their plans to mass vaccinate entire communities should an event arise requiring this.
The exercises, called "Flu-X," will prepare communities for naturally occurring disease outbreaks such as pandemic flu, or acts of terrorism, where mass immunizations are needed to protect people.
At the same time, the exercises will provide real protection against influenza as all members of the public who want to participate will each receive a free flu shot during the exercise.
"We encourage everyone who has not had a flu shot this year to visit a Flu-X clinic near them," said Roderick Bremby, KDHE Secretary. "Not only will you be helping your community prepare for an emergency, but you will be protecting yourself and others from influenza."
The cost of the flu shots is being paid for with federal funds. KDHE has purchased 20,000 doses of vaccine for the exercises, and if the exercises require additional vaccine, county health departments will be reimbursed for vaccine they have already purchased. Persons who receive Medicare or Medicaid benefits should bring their insurance cards and present them to health department staff.
Similar influenza vaccination exercises held in other states last fall have been used as models for Flu-X. Health departments in ten counties across the state have been working since January with support from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), which administers the program, to coordinate Flu-X exercises .
Clinic locations, dates and times are as follows:
Oct. 7 |
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
First Christian Church |
Oct. 7 |
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
St. Michael's Hall |
Oct. 7 |
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
Southeast High School |
Oct. 9 |
7 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
Junction City High School |
Oct. 13 |
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Aloysius Parish Hall |
Oct. 14 |
6:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. |
Bicentennial Center |
Oct. 16 |
8 a.m. - 8 p.m. |
Lyon County Fairgrounds |
Oct. 19 |
7 a.m. - 10 p.m. |
Hutchinson Sports Arena |
Oct. 20 |
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
Township 12 Fire Station |
Oct. 21 |
11 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
Kansas Expocentre Exhibition Hall |
Oct. 23 |
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
Free State High School |
Oct. 27 |
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. |
Seward County Ag Building |
Each year in the United States, about 36,000 people die from the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Death records indicate that 1,714 Kansans died of influenza/pneumonia related illness in the last influenza season (September 2003 - May 2004). In the 2002-2003 flu season, 1,635 deaths from influenza/pneumonia related illness were recorded.
The flu vaccine is usually about 80 percent effective in preventing illness from influenza virus. This means that while it is possible to get influenza after having the vaccine, when illness occurs symptoms are usually less severe and complications less frequent. The vaccine to be used during the Flu-X exercises is not made with a live flu virus, and therefore, it cannot cause the flu.