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Caregivers, Adults Over 49 May Get Flu Shots in 2005
Availability will determine where these groups
allowed
Dec. 20, 2004 Effective January 3, 2005, the
priority group for flu vaccine will be expanded in certain areas to
include persons from age 50 through 64, out-of-home caregivers and
household contacts of persons in high-risk groups. These areas will be
determined by as where state and local health authorities judge vaccine
supply to be adequate to meet demand.
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC)
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expanded the list of
priority groups recommended to receive inactivated influenza vaccine
this flu season, as surplus supplies began to develop in certain areas.
People in the high-risk groups for serious
complications from influenza include persons aged 65 years or older,
children aged less than 2 years, pregnant women, and people of any age
who have certain underlying health conditions such as heart or lung
disease, transplant recipients, or persons with AIDS
In most communities we're still targeting vaccine
to the people in the highest priority groups, said Dr. Julie Gerberding
Director of the CDC. The challenge is that in some places, health
departments and private providers currently do not have enough demand
from people in those priority groups. We don't want those doses to go to
waste, so some states are expanding to make good use of those doses. The
ACIPs recommendation is consistent with this approach.
In response to this seasons vaccine shortage, the
ACIP previously recommended inactivated influenza vaccine for all
children aged 623 months, adults aged 65 years and older, persons aged
264 years 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 aged 6 months18 years on
chronic aspirin therapy, health-care workers involved in direct patient
care, and out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged
<6 months.
The ACIP suggested that health departments and
health care providers implement the expanded recommendations on January
3, 2005, to provide more time for unvaccinated persons in current
priority groups to seek vaccination. In addition, for those who need it,
this date will also enable health officials to plan for expanded efforts
to reach the new priority groups.
Mid-season estimates of vaccination rates are
below rates from last season for adults in priority groups. We urge
persons in priority groups to continue to seek vaccination said Dr.
Gerberding. If you're 65 or older or you have any kind of chronic
condition or you're a health care worker who takes care of patients
directly or if you're pregnant you really should get a flu shot this
year and we're working hard to make sure it's available in your
community.
The Committee also passed a resolution for the
Vaccines for Children (VFC) program that expands the groups of eligible
children to receive VFC influenza vaccine to include VFC-eligible
children who are household contacts of persons in high-risk groups. This
expansion of VFC is effective today.
Influenza activity has been low so far this season.
It is still early, however, and the timing and level of influenza
activity is unpredictable. The level of reported influenza activity can
change at any time, says CDC.
For more information
about influenza and influenza vaccination visit
www.cdc.gov/flu.
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