Seasonal Flu Vaccine Has Arrived            

BELLINGHAM, WA—Shipments of seasonal influenza vaccine for children arrived in Whatcom County on Tuesday. Vaccine for adults has been available at some medical offices and pharmacies and more is expected. The Health Department urges Whatcom residents to prevent the spread of seasonal influenza by getting vaccinated now.  Protection occurs about two weeks after vaccination.

“Vaccines are the most effective protection we have against flu”, according to Greg Stern, MD, Whatcom County Health Officer. “Even ‘mild’ influenza seasons cause significant disease, hospitalizations, and deaths, many of which can be prevented.”

Generally, the cost to get vaccinated is about $25 and some health care insurance policies will reimburse for the cost. Many local pharmacies as well as health care providers are offering seasonal flu vaccine. The Health Department website provides a current schedule of Whatcom County flu clinics under Hot Topics & News: http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/health/index.jsp

Although the seasonal vaccine does not protect against the new 2009 H1N1 flu virus, it does provide protection from other flu viruses. It is important to get a season flu vaccine because individuals could become infected with both seasonal and pandemic influenza this season. The new 2009 H1N1 vaccine will not be available until early to mid-October and will be given to those at highest risk first. Priority vaccination groups for seasonal flu vaccine are somewhat different than those specified by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for H1N1. CDC provides information on vaccine safety at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/

Dr. Stern also says that individuals who need pneumococcal vaccine should be sure to receive it. These include many of the people who should receive influenza vaccine every year. Recently, CDC added smokers as a new category of individuals who should receive the pneumococcal vaccine. For more information, visit the CDC vaccination website: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pneumo/default.htm

Individuals who should get vaccinated for seasonal flu include:

1.    Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday (children less than 6 months are too young to be vaccinated)
2.    Women who will be pregnant during the flu season
3.    People 50 years of age and older
4.    People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (consult your health care provider)
5.    People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6.    Health care providers
7.    People who live with those at high risk for complications from flu, including: household contacts of those at high risk for complications from the flu and household contacts and caregivers of children less than 6 months of age.

In addition to getting immunized, you can prevent the spread of flu by:

• Coughing into your sleeve or covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and disposing of the used tissue in the trash.
• Washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water, or using hand sanitizer.
• Staying home if you are sick, and limiting your contact with other people.

      Media Contact:    Rick Sucee
      Phone:        (360) 815-1696
      E-mail address:    rsucee@cob.org

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