KDHE PLANS FLU VACCINE REDISTRIBUTION EFFORTS

Six of 10 Flu-X Clinics Cancelled Due to Flu Vaccine Shortage and Restrictions

Following Tuesday's announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the loss of approximately half the nation's influenza vaccine supply for the upcoming flu season, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) began finalizing its plan for facilitating the redistribution of flu vaccine in the state.

KDHE is working vigorously with partners at the federal, state, and local level to create and deliver a systematic and prudent plan to distribute vaccine inventory statewide following CDC's recommendations that the flu vaccine be provided only to high risk individuals.

"The state of Kansas has effectively dealt with vaccine shortages in the past, and we will be cooperating with CDC to fairly distribute the Kansas share of the remaining national stock of vaccine," said Richard Morrissey, KDHE Interim Director of Health. "In addition, we will facilitate the sharing of the existing stocks of vaccine among private providers and local health departments so that it can be directed to high priority recipients across the state."

FLU-X CLINICS:

As a result of Tuesday's announcement, several local health departments have decided to cancel planned Flu-X clinics. These exercises were scheduled to help counties prepare for potential mass immunization needs in the future, while at the same time providing flu shots to participants who attended the events.

The following scheduled county Flu-X clinics are cancelled:

Geary - Oct. 9, Osborne - Oct. 13, Lyon - Oct. 16, Reno - Oct 19, Pratt - Oct. 20, Seward - Oct. 27.

The following counties will proceed with clinics for high risk individuals:

Oct. 7 - Crawford Co. - Pittsburg, Girard, Cherokee
Oct.14 - Saline Co. - Bicentennial Center, 800 The Midway, Salina
Oct. 21 - Shawnee Co. - KS Expocentre
Oct. 23 - Douglas Co. - Free State High, 4700 Overland Dr., Lawrence

The shortage of vaccine results from production problems at Chiron Corp. that was to produce approximately half of the supply in the U.S. for the 2004-2005 flu season. The remaining supply is expected to be available in the U.S. is about 54 million doses from Aventis.

Who should get vaccinated with the flu shot this season:

• All children aged 6-23 months
• Adults 65 years and older
• Persons 2-64 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, and
• Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged 6 months and younger.

Other vaccination recommendations:

• Healthy persons who are 5-49 and not pregnant, including healthcare workers (except those who care for severely immuno-compromised patients in special care units) and persons caring for children under 6 months should be encouraged to be vaccinated with intranasally administered live, attenuated influenza vaccine.
• Persons in priority groups identified above should be encouraged to search locally for vaccine if their usual healthcare provider does not have vaccine available.
• Many children under 9 require two doses of vaccine if they have not previously been vaccinated. All children at high risk of complications from influenza, including those age 6-23 months, who present for vaccination, should be vaccinated with a first or second dose, depending on vaccination status. However, doses should not be held in reserve to ensure that two doses will be available. Rather, available vaccine should be used to vaccinate persons in priority groups on a first-come, first-served basis.

Vaccination of Persons in Non-Priority Groups:

Persons who are not included in one of the priority groups above should forego or defer vaccination.

Steps the public can take to avoid catching or spreading the flu:

• Proper hand washing with soap and warm water
• Staying home from school or work when sick.
• Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

Links to information on influenza and vaccination:

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm53d1005.pdf

http://www.kdheks.gov/flu/index.html

Links to respiratory etiquette:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/covercough.htm

Links to handwashing:

http://www.kdheks.gov/wash_em/howtowash.html

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