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October 16, 2003 Contact: Bonnie Widerburg (503) 731-4180 Technical contact: Mary Durbrow (503) 731-4020 Health officials urge influenza vaccination; high-risk persons advised to add a pneumonia shot Influenza season is approaching, vaccine supplies are plentiful and public health officials at the state Department of Human Services (DHS) are promoting flu shots. "Anyone age 50 or older and others at risk for severe complications from influenza should start getting vaccinated this month," says Lorraine Duncan, immunization manager at DHS. "And because there’s abundant vaccine, healthy people who want to avoid the misery of flu should also go ahead and start getting their shots now." Duncan urges health-care providers to provide simultaneous vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal disease for people who fall in a high-risk category. Medicare increased reimbursement for vaccines this year. "Pneumonia is a severe complication of influenza for some people," Duncan says. "Nationally, every year there are 50,000 premature deaths from influenza and pneumonia. If you’re 65 or older or have chronic illness like diabetes or heart disease, ask about getting a pneumonia shot when you go in for your flu vaccine." A new federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report shows that the nation needs to improve vaccination coverage for both influenza and pneumococcal disease. A state-by-state ranking puts Oregon in the middle for both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates. "It’s clear that we have room for improvement when it comes to protecting older Oregonians and those with chronic health conditions from flu and pneumonia," Duncan said. Those who fall in a high-risk category (or their contacts) for influenza are: • Anyone age 50 or older, residents of nursing or long-term care facilities, anyone age 6 months and older with chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, renal disease and immune deficiencies; children under 19 who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy; and women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during flu season. • Healthy children ages 6 to 23 months. • All people who live, work or provide care to high-risk persons listed above. This includes household members, health care providers, employees of nursing homes and care facilities; providers of home care and day care for high risk persons and young children. Parents and caregivers of infants up to 6 months are especially encouraged to get a flu shot. Influenza is characterized by abrupt onset of high fever, headache, sore throat, cough and muscle aches. Other respiratory infections that can be confused with influenza are usually milder and are more likely to start with sore throat, sneezing, runny nose and slight fever. "We’re advising folks to get their flu shots now, but January is still not too late to seek protection," Duncan said. "Influenza usually appears in Oregon in December and peaks in February." For information about flu shot clinics in your area, call 1-800-SAFENET. Additional influenza information is on the Web.
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