KANSAS ALLOWS EXPANDED ACCESS TO FLU VACCINE

With more influenza vaccine available statewide than projected in October, coupled with decreased demand (in some areas of the state) by persons in the highest risk categories for vaccination, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment ( KDHE) is allowing all health care providers in the state to expand access of flu vaccine to two additional groups of people this flu season. County health departments and private medical providers may choose to expand vaccination to these groups depending on local supplies.

Following the December 8 recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu vaccine may now be given to those listed below:

• Adults 50 years or over
• Household contacts of high priority individuals

These two groups are in addition to the high-priority groups already targeted for vaccine, which are:

• children aged 6-23 months
• adults 65 years of age and older
• persons 2-64 years of age 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 involved with direct hands-on patient care, especially patient care of high risk individuals
• out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children less than 6 months of age

Anyone in any group listed above and interested in obtaining a flu shot can contact their local health department and local private providers to determine vaccine availability in their community.

"By expanding the eligibility for immunization to include those 50 years old and older, as well as the household contacts of high risk individuals, more Kansans can get the vaccine that has not yet been given out this season," said Richard Morrissey, KDHE Interim Health Director. "However, if local providers are still seeing a demand for vaccine from the original high risk group, they may choose to continue those restrictions until that demand is met."

Shipments of flu vaccine are beginning to arrive in the state just in time to get Kansans protected from influenza before the holidays. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has received information from several county health departments and private providers confirming the arrival of the shipments. The state is expecting 90,000 doses of vaccine to be delivered by mid-January.

Current Flu Activity Level in Kansas:

Kansas is currently reporting sporadic influenza activity and this is usual for this time of year. There have been no culture-confirmed cases of influenza yet in Kansas. January through March is typically the peak time for flu in Kansas. I t is not too late for high-risk Kansans to get a flu shot and it is important to get a flu shot as soon as it becomes available since it takes about two weeks for the vaccine to begin to protect individuals from the virus.

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

• Proper and frequent hand washing with soap and warm water is extremely important.
• Stay home from school or work when sick.
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

For more information regarding flu vaccine and steps you can take to protect yourself from the flu please go to: www.kdheks.gov.

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