Senior Citizens Now Getting H1N1 Shots in Some
Communities Where Priority Groups Completed
Supply expected to expand rapidly in weeks ahead
but new HHS public service spots do not target seniors
See
the H1N1 flu shot locator below.
Dec. 7, 2009 – Vaccine to protect senior citizens
from H1N1 flu is now available in some communities and will become
increasingly available over the next few weeks, according to Thomas
Frieden, Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Protection.
Frieden made his comments on Friday before Health and Human Services
released a new series of public service commercials this morning urging
people to get the vaccine – none targeting seniors.
“As of today, there are 73 million doses of H1N1
vaccine available. That's twice the number that were available a month
ago. It's 10 million more than last week. We expect at least another 10
million doses in the coming weeks,” Frieden told a news conference.
“Priority groups are still priority for vaccination
and we need to reach particular groups that have been historically under
vaccinated. For example, school kids.”
He said, however, “Increasing numbers of communities and
states are providing vaccines to larger groups of people and that's
completely consistent with the recommendation of the Advisory Committee
on Immunization Practices.
“We want to put the vaccine in the pathway of
people, so people ultimately should be able to get it at their own
doctor's office within the next weeks. An increasing number of the
pharmacy retail stores should have vaccine available. So we want to see
that increasingly readily available.
“We're still hearing from doctors, a lot of demand
for vaccine and many doctors who would like to provide vaccine and
haven't yet been able to. And that will change in the coming weeks. I
think we're seeing a steady increase in availability.”
Friedent said H1N1 has not affected the elderly
significantly. He acknowledged that elderly have gotten it and sometimes
become severely ill.
Enter your zip code or city, click for a
Google map of your area showing where you can get H1N1 and
seasonal flu shots.
But, he said, “That's why we have emphasized the
importance of prompt antiviral treatment of the elderly and others with
underlying conditions who are severely ill.”
HHS Public Service Campaign not aimed at seniors
A public service advertising campaign to encourage
Americans to get vaccinated against the 2009 H1N1 flu was introduced
this morning by Health and Human Services, but none of the television or
radio commercials target senior citizens.
“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect
yourself and your family against the H1N1 flu virus,” said HHS Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius, when she introduced the commercials this morning.
The campaign, called “Together We Can All Fight the
Flu,” features television, radio, online banner, and outdoor public
service advertisements that encourage Americans to get vaccinated
against the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. The Ad Council is also sponsoring the
campaign and distributing the public service spots.
“Fighting the flu is a shared responsibility, and
it is up to all of us to help prevent the spread of the flu in your
community,” Sebelius said.
“Right now, Americans have a window of opportunity
to get vaccinated. These new PSAs will encourage pregnant women,
children, young adults, and other priority groups to protect themselves
by getting the H1N1 vaccine.”
Senior citizens, however, have not been able to get
vaccinated, because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has
found older Americans have at least some immunity to H1N1. On top of the
list for season flu vaccine, older Americans are on the bottom for H1N1
shots.
Scam drops code in your computer; claims to be registering for a non-existent
state program
Dec. 7, 2009 - The Centers for Disease Control and
Preventions, which is the lead agency in battling seasonal flu, H1N1
(swine flu) and most other diseases in the U.S. has alerted the media to
a scam email cruising the Internet attempting to fool Americans into
revealing personal information. Those who click on the link are
downloading a
malicious code on their system. Read
more...
Created pro bono by ad agency Merkley + Partners in
New York City, the new PSA campaign is designed specifically to reach
children, parents, pregnant women, young adults, people with underlying
conditions, and Spanish-speakers. The campaign builds on an HHS PSA
campaign that was launched earlier this year to promote ways to protect
against the flu.
“All across the country, Americans are working
together to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu,” said Peggy Conlon,
president and CEO of the Ad Council. “We are proud to continue our
efforts with Secretary Sebelius and HHS to educate Americans about the
vaccine and how to protect themselves this flu season.”
The new PSAs are available at
www.flu.gov the government’s one-stop Web site for all the latest
information on both seasonal and H1N1 flu. The Ad Council is
distributing the radio and television PSAs today and the ads will be
supported in airtime donated by stations nationwide:
Children, young adults under 25, pregnant women and
adults 25-64 with underlying health conditions, like asthma, are more
susceptible to falling ill to the H1N1 flu and are at higher risk for
serious medical complications, including hospitalization and death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
estimates that between April and October 17, 2009, 22 million people
were infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu, 98,000 H1N1-related
hospitalizations occurred, and there were 3,900 H1N1-related deaths.
The Ad Council has been partnering with HHS to
develop PSA campaigns that address critical health issues since the
1950s. Their successful collaborations have included public service
messages about the polio epidemic, drug abuse and, more recently,
obesity prevention.
U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services The U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services (www.hhs.gov)
is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the
health of all Americans and providing essential human services,
especially for those who are least able to help themselves. HHS is
leading the medical response for the federal government for the H1N1 flu
pandemic. The department includes more than 300 programs, covering a
wide spectrum of activities, including medical and social science
research, preventing outbreak of infectious disease, including
immunization services, assuring food and drug safety, welfare, and
Medicare and Medicaid.
The Advertising
Council The Ad Council (www.adcouncil.org)
is a private, non-profit organization that marshals talent from the
advertising and communications industries, the facilities of the media,
and the resources of the business and non-profit communities to produce,
distribute and promote public service campaigns on behalf of non-profit
organizations and government agencies in issue areas such as improving
the quality of life for children, preventive health, education,
community well-being, environmental preservation and strengthening
families.
Limited access to health care, inadequate testing
may contribute to higher rates of mortality and lower rates of
diagnosis of flu in elderly with dementia
