SE Mass Vaccination Exercise to Go On As Planned

October 15, 2004

Jacqueline Brown, Director of Public Health in Prowers County, and the Project Manager for the "Southeast Mass Vaccination Exercise" reports, that the 9 Southeast Counties including Baca, Bent, Kiowa, Cheyenne, Crowley, Huerfano, Las Animas, Otero, and Prowers, will conduct the "Mass Vaccination Exercise" as planned on Saturday, October 16, 2004 with the following alterations:

In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) announcement made October 5, regarding the loss of the Chiron flu vaccine, exercise planners will implement the CDC & ACIP guidelines, which are as follows: •All children aged 6-23 months of age; •Adults aged 65 years of age and older; •Persons aged 2-65 years 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 under 6 months.

Only persons that fall into the above high risk categories will be vaccinated during the October 16, exercise.

Renay Crain, Director for Kiowa County Nursing Service is "asking that those individuals who are not at high risk for the flu to forgo receiving their flu shots so that we can make certain that the vaccine goes to those who truly need it most." The 9 counties have received limited vaccine supplies for the exercise and will give those vaccines following the above guidelines which will ensure that those who are most at risk will receive the vaccine.

According to the CDC, approximately 54 million doses of injectable influenza vaccine from Aventis and about another 1-2 million doses of FluMist nasal spray is available nationwide for this year’s flu season. FluMist is a Intranasally administered, live, attenuated influenza vaccine, and if available, should be encouraged for healthy persons who are aged 5-49 years and are not pregnant, including health-care workers (except those who care for severely immunocompromised patients in special care units) and persons caring for children aged <6 months. The 9 counties involved in the exercise are using the Aventis injectable vaccine for the exercise and will not have FluMist to administer.

Crain encourages the public to take other preventative measures to avoid getting the flu this year such as hand washing, covering your cough and staying home from work and school if you are sick.

The CDC is continuing to work on additional strategies on how best to address the need for vaccine this year.

Crain also states that this is a true public health event that will put all health care providers and public health to the test. Public Health Officials in SE Colorado have addressed vaccine shortages in the past and will continue to guard the public’s health with continued planning, response, and coordination with state and national officials.

If you have additional questions or concerns please contact Renay Crain or Sherry Emmert @ Kiowa County Nursing Service @ 438-5782. Additional information will be available at www.immunizecolorado.com