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Health Department Resumes Flu Shots

Posted on: Friday, 5 November 2004, 15:00 CST

PROVO -- The Utah County Health Department will resume the administration of flu shots to high-risk individuals today, starting at 8 a.m. at the department, 151 S. University Avenue.

The department recently received 3,000 doses from Aventis, which is replacing half of what the health department lost from an unshipped Chiron order. The health department also received an additional 2,500 doses from Intermountain Healthcare -- 1,500 of which will be dispensed at local senior citizen centers and nursing homes.

With the additional shipments, the health department has received 13,000 flu doses this year -- well below the 20,000 the department had anticipated.

"While this is still not the full amount of flu shots we were anticipating, we are pleased with the additional number we have received to protect high risk individuals," said Dr. Joseph Miner, department director.

High risk groups eligible for shots include:

-- Children aged 6-23 months.

-- Children between 6 months and 18 years old who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

-- Health-care personnel who work directly with patients and household members of infants under 6 months of age.

-- Adults age 65 years and older.

-- Residents of long-term care facilities that house people with chronic medical conditions.

-- People with long-term health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease and asthma.

-- Women who are pregnant.

-- People with weakened immune systems.

Prescription antibiotics for influenza are also available for prevention and treatment and have some usefulness for high-risk individuals who are unable to receive the flu shot.

Anyone not receiving a flu shot this year should take the following precautions:

-- Wash hands thoroughly after contact with the public.

-- Avoid touching the face before washing hands.

-- Cover mouth in public places if showing signs of the flu

-- Stay home if ill to avoid getting other people sick

The Utah County Health Department will continue to update flu shot availability at www.utahcountyhealth.org under Family and Personal Health, and on the flu-shot hotline at 851-7034.

Source: Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

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