AMA, CDC and NFID Join 50+ Organizations to Launch
Nationwide Initiative Urging Influenza Vaccination
Before Virus Strikes
BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 50 medical and health
organizations today announced a major national public health initiative aimed
at urging everyone who has not already done so to be immunized against one of
the top 10 causes of death in the United States -- influenza. It is
particularly important for those at high risk of complications from influenza
to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccination is the best protection
against what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns may be
a "more severe season than in the previous three years."
The CDC, American Medical Association (AMA), National Foundation for
Infectious Diseases (NFID) and other key partners in the National Influenza
Summit are working together to encourage Americans, and particularly those at
high risk of serious complications from influenza, to get vaccinated against
flu as soon as possible. As part of this initiative, the National Influenza
Summit is also encouraging health care professionals to get vaccinated and to
continue to offer influenza vaccination to patients in December and beyond.
"Flu viruses are circulating at a higher level than usual at this time
with cases of influenza being reported in communities across the country,"
said Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH, director of CDC. "We are urging Americans,
particularly those at high risk of complications from influenza, to get their
flu shot as soon as possible. We are concerned the public has become
complacent about influenza, and we need to get the word out that there is
plenty of vaccine available and a flu shot is the best protection against
influenza, which kills about 36,000 Americans during an average year."
As part of the National Influenza Summit initiative, the nation's leading
medical and health organizations, which include public health agencies, health
professional associations, health insurers and others, have committed to
implementing a unified communications program with activities to help ensure
immunizers continue to stock the vaccine and immunize patients.
The campaign is designed to increase public awareness about the importance
of influenza immunization, particularly for everyone aged 50 or older and
people of any age who have a chronic illness. Vaccination is strongly
recommended for people who were not immunized during the optimal vaccination
months of October and November. Activities in the joint campaign will deliver
flu vaccine messages during November, December and January.
"We are collaborating on a far-reaching communications program to
encourage people to be vaccinated in December and the remaining months of this
influenza season," said Donald Palmisano, MD, JD, president of the AMA. "At
the same time, we are appealing to health care professionals to continue their
vaccination efforts during this time."
Outreach activities include nationwide television and radio public service
announcements, featuring Tommy Thompson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS), encouraging flu immunizations for everyone.
Also planned are broadcast news releases, media tours, radio promotions and
Web site communications. Organizations involved with the National Influenza
Summit also are considering ways to ensure they participate in the program and
disseminate information to their constituents and the general public.
Get Vaccinated Sooner Rather Than Later
Multiple factors influence each influenza season, making the impact of
influenza notoriously difficult to predict, according to Dr. Gerberding.
Influenza cases have already been reported in more than 40 states, including
Arizona, Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Carolina,
Texas, Utah and Washington.
Public health officials report influenza vaccination activities typically
decline as Thanksgiving approaches, suggesting that immunizers may stop
offering the vaccine and that the general public is unaware of the CDC's
recommendations to continue immunization programs into December, January and
beyond.
"If you haven't been vaccinated yet, see your doctor as soon as possible
or find out where in your community the vaccine is being offered," said
William Schaffner, MD, NFID board member and professor and chair of the
department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
"We hope this national awareness program will make sure everyone knows that
you can still get a flu shot in December and into the winter season if you
have not already done so."
Vaccination Appropriate For Most, Recommended For Many
CDC recommends vaccination for anyone who wants to avoid influenza and
especially for groups considered at high risk of influenza-related
complications. CDC's list of groups at risk for complications if they get the
flu includes adults aged 65 and older; anyone with a chronic health problem
such as heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes, cancer or HIV/AIDS; and
pregnant women past their first trimester.
Vaccination is recommended for those aged 50 to 64 and encouraged for
healthy children 6 to 23 months of age and their caregivers. These young
children are at as great a risk for being hospitalized due to flu-related
complications as persons 65 years of age and older, a group already targeted
for annual flu vaccinations. Health care workers and others who have close
contact with people at high risk also should be vaccinated to reduce the odds
of passing influenza to someone for whom it can be life threatening.
According to CDC, it takes 10 to 14 days after vaccination for the body to
develop protection against influenza. Individuals with egg allergies or those
who have had a previous vaccine-associated allergic reaction should talk with
their health care providers before getting the vaccine. Persons with acute
febrile illnesses (high fever) should usually wait until symptoms subside.
However, flu vaccine may be given in the presence of minor illnesses, with or
without fever, particularly among children with mild upper respiratory tract
infections or hay fever.
An alternative vaccine option available to healthy persons is the
intranasal spray also known as "live-attenuated influenza vaccine" or "LAIV."
The intranasal vaccine is approved for use in healthy persons aged 5 to 49
years to prevent influenza A and B. While LAIV can be used in healthy people
aged 5 to 49 years, the injectable inactivated influenza vaccine can be used
for anyone, healthy or high-risk, 6 months of age and older.
CDC estimates that vaccine manufacturers will produce sufficient vaccine
this season so all persons wishing to avoid influenza, regardless of age or
health status, can be vaccinated.
National Influenza Summit Participants
The National Influenza Summit is comprised of more than 50 organizations,
including AMA, CDC, NFID and other partners with an interest in issues related
to influenza vaccine research, production, distribution and vaccine
administration. Participants in the National Influenza Summit advise on and
respond to issues of influenza vaccination throughout the year. For a
complete list of the National Influenza Summit partners, visit the AMA Web
site at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/article/1826-7688.html.
SOURCE National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
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Related links:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/article/1826-7688.html
CONTACT:
Jennifer Passantino for National Foundation
for Infectious Diseases, +1-732-382-8898
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