HEALTH OFFICIALS PROVIDE FLU VACCINE UPDATE DURING TOPEKA FLU CLINIC/EXERCISE FOR PRIORITY GROUPS

During a Shawnee County flu clinic for high-risk priority groups Thursday in Topeka, health officials updated the public regarding flu vaccination issues locally, as well as statewide.

The clinic, conducted by the Shawnee County Health Agency, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kansas Expocentre, provided the county with an opportunity to exercise its mass immunization plan. This plan is designed to address bioterrorism or natural disasters where a large number of people would potentially need to receive vaccine in a short time frame.

Due to the national flu vaccine shortage announced October 5, the clinic screened each participant and provided flu vaccine only to high-risk individuals as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, a $20.00 charge was assessed per shot.

During a news conference today, Shawnee County Health Officer, Dr. Larry Rumans , discussed the importance of conducting this clinic to reach a large number of high-risk individuals, while also exercising the county plan for conducting a mass immunization clinic.

"While the flu vaccine shortage brings additional challenges to all health care providers this flu season, Shawnee County Health Agency is working to get as many high-risk individuals vaccinated as possible with the available doses we have," said Dr. Rumans. "It is important that those who need the vaccine most such as the older population, the very young, and the chronically ill, are able to get it. In addition, this clinic helps Shawnee County determine how to improve its mass immunization plan to better address the needs of the public."

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Secretary Roderick L. Bremby , addressed the actions the state has taken to assess the flu vaccine supplies in the state, and assist with redistribution of vaccine to areas where high demand remains among the high risk population.

"We understand there is great concern and uncertainty among Kansans regarding the flu vaccine supply this year," said Bremby. "We have been assessing the supply in Kansas since the announcement of the flu vaccine shortage earlier this month, and we will continue to work with the local health departments and private providers to facilitate the redistribution of vaccine to the most at-risk population."

"KDHE is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and communicating frequently with them to better assist the local communities as decisions are made regarding vaccine redistribution," Bremby said. "We urge everyone to be patient, as we are still very early in the flu season, and to date no flu activity has been reported in Kansas through our surveillance network. CDC assures us that additional unshipped doses of vaccine from Aventis-Pasteur are currently being shipped out to high-risk providers who had placed orders from Aventis as well as Chiron. These include hospitals, child health care providers and nursing homes."

"It is also important to remember there are several things we can all do this flu season to protect ourselves and others from influenza." Bremby noted. "This includes washing our hands frequently, covering the mouth and nose when we cough, and staying home from work or school when we are sick, so that we don't get others sick, too."

Kansas Department on Aging Secretary Pamela Johnson-Betts , addressed the importance of healthy individuals foregoing the vaccine, so that the older population and those with chronic illnesses could access the vaccine.

"During this time of a national flu vaccine shortage, it is imperative that we give our attention to our most vulnerable population, including those who are 65 and older who make up the largest percentage of our high risk population," said Johnson-Betts. "That means those of us who are healthy must step aside and forego a flu shot so that we aren't reducing someone else's chances of getting much needed vaccine."

"I am concerned about our nursing home and long term care population in the state, and I am pleased that CDC is taking steps to get vaccine supplies shipped to these providers on a priority basis, due to the high risk population they serve," Johnson-Betts added. "We have worked with KDHE to get information to nursing homes so that we can better assess their need for vaccines, and we know many facilities are still awaiting vaccine. While more vaccine doses are being shipped to some of these providers, it is important that we all take steps to minimize the risk of our loved ones in long-term care facilities."

"It is imperative that health care workers, as well as family and friends of those in nursing homes take steps to prevent spreading sickness to the residents," Johnson-Betts said. "Those steps include staying home when you are sick, practicing good hygiene, and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing."

"It is also recommended that those individuals 65 and over get vaccinated for pneumonia at this time," Johnson-Betts noted. "While this won't protect them from the flu, it is an important vaccination for the older population."

Local Vaccine Supply in Shawnee County:

Local health care providers in Shawnee County have been working together regarding distribution of local vaccine supply to ensure that those at most risk receive their flu vaccination. As more information is available regarding local vaccine supply, it will be made available to the public.

State's Vaccine Supply Status:

Influenza vaccine currently is being redistributed among local health departments and private providers in some communities across the state. Many local health communities have been working together closely to develop plans for the best way to vaccinate high-risk individuals in their areas. Plans vary across the state.

• According to information reported to KDHE to date, public and private health-care providers across the state have received more than 98,000 doses of adult influenza vaccine and more than 9,000 doses of pediatric vaccine. This information is based on a small number of survey responses from health care providers, and therefore, is not fully representative of the total vaccine supply in Kansas to date. Of the 105 Kansas counties, all but 23 have reported receiving some vaccine to date. The remaining 23 counties either have not reported, or have reported no vaccine received.
• KDHE has received about 12,000 doses of vaccine purchased through the federal Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program. This program is for children who are uninsured, enrolled in the Medicaid Program or Healthwave, or who are American Indian. KDHE expects to receive at least 9, 000 additional doses of VFC vaccine that was ordered for this flu season.
• Doses of FluMist, a live virus vaccine, administered as a nasal spray, were made available to local health departments in Kansas last week through a CDC contract. As a result, KDHE ordered 1,250 doses after receiving orders from 17 local health departments. FluMist may be given to those in two of the high-risk categories: health care workers with direct patient contact, and household contacts or childcare providers of children six months and younger.

National Vaccine Supply Status:

The following national vaccination efforts are underway at CDC:

• CDC is working with Aventis Pasteur to identify providers that work with high-risk populations in need of vaccine, such as long-term care facilities, pediatric clinics and hospitals. Some providers who originally ordered vaccine from Chiron Corp. may receive some vaccine from Aventis within the next six to eight weeks. Aventis indicates it will contact providers to let them know if and when they will receive vaccine.
• Aventis Pasteur announced this week they will manufacture an additional 2.6 million doses of vaccine that will be available in January nationwide, for a total of 58 million doses of vaccine this flu season.
• In addition, MedImmune, the maker of FluMist, announced earlier this month that it will produce a total of 2 million doses of the live virus vaccine, which can be used by healthy, non-pregnant individuals who are ages 5 to 49. This brings the national total supply of influenza vaccine to 60 million doses this flu season.
• The federal government also has a stockpile of antiviral medicines that help to lessen the impact of the flu. Antiviral medicines must be provided by a physician and must be prescribed within 24 hours of onset of symptoms to be effective. The national stockpile includes enough doses of Rimantadine for 4.25 million adults and 750,000 children, and by December will include enough Tamiflu for 2.3 million people.

Due to the vaccine shortage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidelines for health care providers to follow regarding vaccination of high-risk individuals only. High-risk individuals are as follows:

• People 65 years of age and older
• Children ages 6 months to 23 months
• Adults and children 2 years of age and older with chronic lung or heart disorders including heart disease and asthma
• Pregnant women
• Adults and children 2 years of age and older with chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes), kidney diseases, blood disorders (such as sickle cell anemia), or weakened immune systems, including persons with HIV/AIDS
• Children and teenagers, 6 months to 18 years of age, who take aspirin daily
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities
• Household members and out-of-home caregivers of infants under the age of 6 months (Children under the age of 6 months cannot be vaccinated.)
• Healthcare workers who provide direct, hands-on patient care with regular frequency to the priority group patients listed above

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 (FluMist).

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
• Stay home from school or work when sick.
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

Back to KDHE News Release Index