|
Flu vaccine opened
to more groups
Available at Logan County Health Department
Send a link to a friend
[JAN.
10, 2005]
On Dec. 27 the
Logan County Health Department expanded the target group eligible to
receive the influenza vaccine. Those now eligible to receive the flu
vaccine include adults age 50-64 and out-of-home caregivers and
household contacts of people in high-risk groups. |
|
People in the high-risk groups
for serious complications from influenza include individuals 65
years or older, children less than 2 years old, pregnant women and
people of any age who have certain underlying health conditions such
as heart or lung disease, transplant recipients, and people with
AIDS. "We want to make sure
the public knows that the eligibility includes family members,
household contacts and the caregivers of those in the high-risk
groups," said Mark Hilliard, administrator of the local health
department.
In response to this season's vaccine
shortage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously
recommended inactivated influenza vaccine for all children 6-23
months, adults 65 years and older, people 2-64 years old with
underlying chronic medical conditions, all women who will be
pregnant during the influenza season, residents of nursing homes and
long-term care facilities, children 6 months-18 years who are on
chronic aspirin therapy, health-care workers involved in direct
patient care, and out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of
children less than 6 months old.
[to top of second column in this
article] |
"Influenza activity in Illinois has
been low so far this season, but other states are beginning to see
more widespread cases," Hilliard said. "We want to make sure that
those eligible in the Logan County area have an opportunity to
receive the vaccine before it's redistributed to other parts of the
state," he added.
Flu vaccine is available at the local health department, 109
Third St., during normal clinic hours, Monday through Friday 7:30
a.m. until 4 p.m.
[Logan
County Health Department news release]
|
