Flu shots urged now
for high-risk groups;
others should wait
By: Dick Kaukas
The Courier-Journal, October 15, 2001
Distribution of
vaccine may be limited at first.
Public health
officials in Kentucky and Indiana are reminding senior citizens and those
with weakened immune systems that it's important for them to get a flu
shot in the next few weeks.
That's because
there's a greater chance that people with compromised immunity who get the
flu will die or suffer serious complications.
''We're encouraging
high-risk people'' to get the shots first and for others to wait, mainly
because supplies of vaccine are expected to be limited at first, said Dr.
Barry Wainscott. He's the communicable disease branch manager for the
Kentucky Department of Public Health in Frankfort.
From Nov. 1 on, when
the vaccine is expected to become widely available, those not in the
higher-risk groups who want to get immunized should, Wainscott said.
The federal Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention has said there will be enough vaccine
this flu season -- 79.1 million doses -- but manufacturing and
distribution problems will delay the arrival of some of it.
Even so, more than
half is expected by the end of this month.
Wainscott said there
have been no confirmed flu cases in Kentucky yet, although there have been
sporadic reports of people with symptoms, including sudden onset of high
fever, body aches, coughing and sore throat.
The vaccine doesn't
guarantee you'll escape the flu. But it does prevent infection in many
people, and makes the symptoms milder in others.
Many organizations
that distribute flu vaccine will be focusing first on those 65 and older
and those with weakened immunity.
For example, the
Visiting Nurse Association and the Jefferson County Health Department are
limiting the first shots to higher-risk groups.
The shots, which are
covered by Medicare, cost $10 from the health department and $12 from the
nurses' group.
Dave Langdon, a
spokesman for the county health department, said at-risk adults can
schedule an appointment by calling 574-5380 for the telephone number and
location of a nearby clinic.
Langdon said the
department has been setting up appointments since Oct. 1, and has given
the vaccine to more than 3,500 people. The department has its full
allotment of vaccine -- 15,000 doses, he said.
Starting next month,
Langdon said, the department will provide vaccine to the general
population at sites yet to be announced, with no appointment required.
The visiting nurses
are following that same general outline, said Pat Wernert, an association
spokeswoman. She said the association will start giving shots this week to
senior citizens and others at risk, but won't schedule public sessions at
Kroger supermarkets and other sites until Nov. 1.
People who want to
find out times and locations for the public shots can call the
association's flu hot line at 581-8614.
The University of
Louisville Hospital will give shots for $10 to drivers and passengers at a
drive-through area near the hospital's entrance at 529 S. Jackson St. on
Nov. 8 and 13 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Most people roll up their sleeves and
get the shot through the car window.
Ruth Carrico, the
hospital's director of infection control, said she has received all the
vaccine she asked for -- about 3,000 doses earmarked for the drive-throughs
and about 3,000 for sessions scheduled by area businesses.
In Southern Indiana,
the Floyd County Health Department, Floyd Memorial Hospital's Urgent Care
Center and Clark Memorial Hospital will provide the vaccine to the public.
Jeanette Kannapel, a
Floyd County Health Department nurse, said public sessions will be
scheduled starting Nov. 1, but won't be announced until the department has
its vaccine in hand, probably toward the end of this month.
Clark Memorial
Hospital and Southern Home Care, its health-care agency, have scheduled
flu shots at a cost of $10 this month and next.
Southern Home Care,
1806 E. 10th St. in Jeffersonville, has scheduled walk-in sessions on
several days from Oct. 23 through Nov. 15. For details, call 283-9190.
Clark Memorial has
scheduled drive-through shots on several days between Nov. 3 and Nov. 20.
For details, call 284-3754.
Floyd Memorial
Hospital's Urgent Care Center, 800 Highlander Point, hopes to receive
vaccine at the end of this month and to start dispensing it then. People
should call 923-6336 first to make sure there is vaccine. The shots will
cost $15.
Health officials
emphasized that if senior citizens don't get a shot this month, they
shouldn't give up. Shots administered in November, December and later
still provide protection.
Besides people 65 and
older, those at highest risk include residents of nursing homes and other
long-termcare facilities; adults and children with heart disease and
respiratory problems such as asthma; adults and children with diabetes,
kidney problems or lowered immune systems; children on long-term aspirin
therapy; and women who will be at least four months pregnant during flu
season.
In addition,
health-care workers -- doctors, nurses and others -- also are urged to get
their shots early.
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