Genesee County Health Department
Better Life Through Better Health
Priorities
for Flu Vaccine Use in
Genesee
County
Release Date:
October
19, 2004
Kill Date:
October
29, 2004
Contact
Person:
Robert M. Pestronk, MPH
Health
Officer
Genesee
County Health Department
810-257-3812
Genesee
County
residents over 6 months of age with chronic diseases will receive first
priority for influenza (flu) vaccination.
Nonetheless, shortages of vaccine resulting from the failure of quality
control at Chiron Corporation means there will be insufficient flu vaccine
available for all residents who might seek vaccination.
County residents unable to be vaccinated can choose to practice certain
preventive actions which may reduce their risk of infection, and infection of
others, with influenza virus.
In
addition, local health systems and organizations will use vaccine
ordered annually for staff to assure that certain healthcare workers do
not place hospitalized patients at greater risk and that particularly
vulnerable parts of the medical infrastructure remain usable during the
upcoming flu season.
Local
residents given first priority should pay close attention to media
announcements for the dates of scheduled clinics and contact their own
physicians to check on the availability of vaccine. Residents seeking
vaccination at sites other than their own physicians' offices should
bring picture identification and documentation of their chronic illness
to receive vaccine. Current
supplies will be available until they are exhausted.
People with the following chronic illnesses will be given
priority for the vaccine throughout
Genesee
County
:
□
Heart
disease
(e.g., cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, congestive heart
failure);
□
Lung
disease
(e.g., asthma, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, other obstructive or
restrictive lung diseases);
□
Metabolic
disease
(e.g., diabetes);
□
Kidney
disease;
□
Blood
disorders
(e.g., sickle cell anemia);
□
Immune
deficiency or disorders
(e.g., cancer, bone marrow disorders, immunoglobulin deficiency).
All
residents are encouraged to make wise personal choices which can protect
themselves and others from infection. These include:
□
Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Keep your distance from
others to protect them from getting sick too.
Don’t shake hands with someone who is sick or if you are sick.
□
Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick.
Help prevent others from catching your illness.
□
Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may
prevent those around you from getting sick.
□
Wash your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs and others from
your 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.
□
Use paper tissue once and discard
after use.
□
Drink
plenty of non-alcoholic liquids.
□
Don’t
smoke.
□
Get
adequate sleep.
□
Reduce
stress.
□
Eat
a healthy diet.
□
Exercise
regularly at a level of consistent with current fitness level.
For
further information, contact the Genesee County Health Department Flu
Hotline at (810) 257-3598. You may also find flu vaccine
updates at our web site: http://www.gchd.us.
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