Flu vaccine is available for high priority people
Published 12:42 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008
By Teresa Herriman
The Courier-Herald
The Washington State Department of Health is launching a statewide campaign to remind members of high priority groups that it's not too late to get a flu shot.
"For high priority people, flu vaccine is the best protection against serious complications from influenza," State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes said in a press release.
Although influenza activity remains low in Washington state and across the country, the agency has produced radio and print announcements in English and Spanish to advise residents that there is still time for a flu shot to be effective.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently announced that a wider range of people are now eligible for a flu shot. Effective immediately, flu vaccine is available to traditional high-risk groups, including people who are over 50, out-of-home caregivers and those living with any high-risk person. Previously, the CDC had recommended vaccinations for high-risk adults age 65 and older and their caregivers.
Others high-risk groups for serious complications from influenza include children under the age of two, pregnant women and people of any age who have certain underlying health conditions such as heart or lung disease, transplant recipients or persons with AIDS.
After consulting with local health leaders around the state, officials at the Pierce County Health Department said it appears that demand among previously defined high-risk groups has dropped considerably, thus allowing providers to expand the target groups to reach more people.
Limited vaccine supplies at the start of the flu season had health officials worried this year would be especially dangerous. However, compared to previous years, the flu season seems to have gotten a late start. To date, only one state (New York) is experiencing widespread flu activity. Officials at the health department expect this year's flu season to peak as late as February or March.
According to the CDC's immunization Web site (www.immunize.org), influenza is unpredictable.
"We are certainly not assuming that we’re out of the woods yet, and we will continue to prioritize immunization and flu prevention activities across our whole health system," officials on the Web site report.
So far, more than 21 million doses of vaccine have been distributed since the shortage was announced in October. The CDC said it has been successfully targeting those doses of vaccine to the places that need them the most. About 34 percent of people have been vaccinated so far this year - fewer than those inoculated by mid-flu season last year.
Another 3.5 million doses of licensed vaccine are still to come and additional doses are still expected as they become available, according to the CDC.
The Washington State Department of Health reports influenza activity throughout the state is sporadic. To date, laboratories have identified 39 positive cases from eight counties. A majority of those reports came from King and Spokane counties. However, these counties may represent an artificially high number of cases since three of the influenza laboratories are located in King County and one is in Spokane County.
Further information regarding influenza vaccinations is available at the Department of Health's Web site, www.doh.wa.gov/flu.
Locally, only one Bonney Lake store is offering flu shots. Albertsons, on state Route 410 East, currently has flu vaccine. The pharmacists are certified to provide the shots.
Representatives for Albertson's recommend calling 253-826-5757 to make an appointment. The cost of a flu shot is $20. The nasal spray is available for $30.
The Good Samaritan Mobile Health Unit will be in Bonney Lake Jan. 13 at the Bonney Lake Senior Center from 10 a.m. to noon and in the Safeway parking lot from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Robin Peterson, coordinator for Good Samaritan Mobile Health Services, is hopeful she will still have enugh flu vaccine to last.
"It's hard to predict how long our supply will last," she said.
She is using her final shipment and is unsure if the hospital will be getting any more vaccine.
"I'm not scheduled to get any more at this time," she said.
She received almost 2,000 doses in December, but Peterson admits this has been a strange year.
Peterson reports she has plenty of children's flu vaccine.
The mobile unit charges $20 for a flu shot. Good Samaritan will bill Medicare Part B as long as it is not associated with a health maintenance organization such as Group Health. Officials ask that the Medicare card be provided at the time of service.
The offices of the mobile health unit will be moving Monday from the Pioneer Campus to the new South Hill Clinic at 16515 Meridian East, Suite 100-A, in Puyallup. The offices will be closed for the move, but will reopen Tuesday. Vaccines regularly offered at the clinic on Tuesdays will be administered from the new location beginning that day.
"This move will affect just the Tuesday clinic site. All other locations will remain the same," Peterson said.
There may be some slight adjustments to the time of day the mobile unit will offer services at various sites, but the day and location are not expected to change.
Peterson recommends calling the hospital's vaccination hotline for updates, locations and schedules at 253-697-3930 prior to Monday. After that, the new number will be 253-679-8160.
Teresa Herriman can be reached at therriman@cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/courierherald.
