Flu Vaccine Program Modified

Currently, there are no sites in Nassau County for the public to obtain influenza vaccine. As a result of the recently announced loss of half of the nation's flu vaccine supply for the 2004-2005 season the federal government is working closely with state and local health departments to distribute the remaining supply of influenza vaccine. Over the next 6-8 weeks, about 14.2 million doses of vaccine will be distributed throughout the nation to those determined to be at greatest risk of complications of influenza. They include people in hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and private providers who care for young children. Nassau County is working with hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians to meet their needs.

Influenza season typically peaks in the United States between December and March. Currently there is no reported flu activity in Nassau County.

Priority groups for vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine for the 2004-2005 influenza season include: all children aged 6-23 months, adults aged 65 years and older, persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions, all women who will be pregnant during influenza season, residents of nursing homes and long-term 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 <6 months.

The Nassau County Departments of Health and Senior Citizen Affairs, the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, the Nassau County Medical Society, the Nassau Pediatric Society and the Intercounty Health Facilities Association of Long Island are working together to assure that influenza vaccine that is currently available in Nassau County is provided to Nassau County residents at high risk for complications and to assure that when additional supplies of vaccine become available that they will be directed to those providers and organizations that need it most.

The Nassau County Departments of Health and Senior Citizen Affairs, the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, the Nassau County Medical Society, the Nassau Pediatric Society and the Intercounty Health Facilities Association of Long Island are working together to assure that influenza vaccine that is currently available in Nassau County is provided to Nassau County residents at high risk for complications and to assure that when additional supplies of vaccine become available that they will be directed to those providers and organizations that need it most.

Nassau County hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities have been contacted to identify their influenza vaccine needs and status. Physicians were notified by the Nassau County Medical Society and the Nassau Pediatric Society to provide the Department of Health with the influenza vaccine needs for their high risk patients. In addition, hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities and home care agencies are responding to the New York State Department of Health influenza vaccine supply and needs survey. Health care providers have been notified of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC's) interim influenza vaccine recommendation drafted in response to the vaccine shortage.

To date, Nassau County has determined that the 32 Nassau County nursing homes are in need of 6,000 doses of flu vaccine for their patients and 6,000 doses for their staff, the 19 adult care facilities are in need of 2,000 doses for their patients and 900 doses for their staff; and the 12 hospitals are in need of 10,000 doses for their staff; who have direct patient care contact. Over 120 Nassau County physicians surveyed reported that they need vaccine for 43,000 high risk patients. The Nassau County Senior Flu Vaccine Program that annually provided influenza vaccine for 15,000 seniors was cancelled due to the lack of vaccine. An estimated 25% of the Nassau County population (between 300,000 - 350,000 residents) are considered at high risk, including children under age 2 years, adults 65 years and older, individuals between 2 and 64 years with underlying medical conditions, women who will be pregnant during influenza season, residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, children 6 months - 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy, health care workers with direct patient care contact and out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children under age 6 months.

PROTECT YOURSELF!

Senior can protect themselves from the flu even if they are not included in the priority group for vaccination. To stop the spread of germs and take actions to prevent getting sick, everyone should:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick . If you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Stay home when you are sick, if possible . Staying home from work, school and errands when sick will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your cough or sneeze . Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Clean your hands . Washing your hands after coughing and sneezing and washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth . Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
• Maintain a healthy life style , including:
• getting plenty of sleep
• engaging in physical activity
• managing stress
• drinking water
• eating nutritious food
• avoid tobacco use

As the supply of available vaccine is released by the CDC and Aventis Pasteur, the Nassau County hospitals, nursing homes, long term care facilities, the medical societies and their member physicians and the Departments of Health and Senior Citizen Affairs will continue to work together to ensure that the vaccine will be administered to those identified by the CDC as priority groups for vaccination.