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Help Protect Your Health: Minneapolis and St. Paul Residents Are Encouraged To Get an Influenza Vaccination This Season

Posted on: Tuesday, 9 January 2007, 09:01 CST

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Although annual influenza, also known as the flu, vaccinations are the most effective way to keep from catching influenza and are highly recommended, a new survey, conducted by International Communications Research and sponsored by Novartis Vaccines, reveals that only 42 percent of Minneapolis and St. Paul (Twin Cities) residents were vaccinated against influenza, or "the flu" last season. Every year, up to 20 percent of the United States population gets sick with influenza for approximately one to two weeks, and an average of 36,000 people in the U.S. die from influenza- related complications. In an effort to increase influenza vaccination rates, Novartis Vaccines encourages Twin Cities residents to visit their primary care physician or local influenza clinics to receive an influenza vaccination.

While most Twin Cities residents believe that influenza strikes around the holidays, in reality it often peaks January through March, as illustrated in 25 of the past 30 influenza seasons. In fact, a closer look at Minneapolis and St. Paul reveals that over the past five years influenza typically peaked in February.

"As a Minnesota resident and physician, I know the importance of receiving an influenza vaccination. Visit your doctor for an influenza vaccination; as an alternative, you can also visit an influenza vaccination clinic and help protect our community from influenza," said Neal Holtan, MD, Medical Director of Partnership Continuum, Inc. "We are dedicated to increasing influenza vaccination rates across all populations and support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recent efforts to encourage vaccination in December and January."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an annual influenza vaccination is the single best way to prevent influenza. Contrary to popular belief, anyone, even healthy adults, can get influenza or spread influenza to others. As a result, the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated guidelines regarding the prevention and control of influenza to recommend an influenza vaccination for a broader range of people. This includes all children six to 59 months of age, as well as their caregivers, people 50 years and older and those who are in close contact with them, and women who will be pregnant during the influenza season.

Influenza strikes quickly often with debilitating symptoms such as high fever, severe aches and pains, intense headache, extreme weakness and a serious dry cough. A person can infect others with influenza the day before symptoms appear and for five days after. That is why it is important for Twin Cities residents to get an influenza vaccination this year to help them avoid getting sick and spreading influenza to their loved ones.

For individuals more than 65 years of age, the Medicare program covers an influenza vaccination and the cost of administration for beneficiaries. This program was developed in partnership with Novartis Vaccines, one of the leading influenza vaccine providers in the U.S.

Influenza Myths

There are many commonly believed influenza myths that could lead to the low percentage of influenza vaccinations, including concerns over getting sick from the vaccine. To offer a better understanding of influenza and influenza vaccination, here are a few facts about influenza:

FACT: You cannot get influenza by receiving an influenza vaccination. The injectable vaccine is composed of an inactivated (killed) virus that cannot cause disease. Minor side effects can occur such as low grade fever or achiness, but this is not influenza. FACT: Last year's vaccination is unlikely to protect a person against influenza this season because influenza viruses change continually and a person's immunity after vaccination declines over the year. FACT: Influenza is a contagious disease of the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs) that can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia and dehydration, and worsening of chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

It's not too late for Twin Cities residents to get vaccinated against influenza.

To learn more about influenza and influenza vaccinations visit http://www.flusource.com/.

For more information contact: Cheryl Lawson (212) 715-1516; lawsonc@ruderfinn.com

Novartis Vaccines

CONTACT: Cheryl Lawson, +1-212-715-1516, lawsonc@ruderfinn.com, forNovartis Vaccines

Web site: http://www.flusource.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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