Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 10, 2005 Carl Savage of Medford gets a flu shot from R.N. Jill McKean at Costco in Medford on Saturday. Until Oct. 24, the shots will only be available for seniors over 65 and other high- risk groups. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Keeping the flu at bay High-risk groups can get shots in Jackson County now, with vaccinations open to others on Oct. 24 By BILL KETTLER Mail Tribune The days are getting shorter; the leaves are turning gold; and people are lining up for their flu shots. At least seniors are. For the next few weeks, only seniors and others included in federally defined priority groups will be getting immunized against influenza. Federal officials expect to have ample supplies of vaccine, but they want people who are most vulnerable to the virus to get vaccinated before they release the vaccine to the general public. Until Oct. 24, flu shots will be available only to people over age 65, residents of long-term care centers, persons age 2 to 64 who have chronic health conditions; children age 6 to 23 months; pregnant women; health-care personnel who provide direct patient care; and people who provide out-of-home care to children under the age of 6 months. Beginning Oct. 24, the flu vaccine will be available to everyone else, too. At that point, people can contact their physician to arrange a shot or attend any of the flu-shot clinics that have been scheduled at shopping malls, community centers, grocery stores and pharmacies across Jackson County. Advertisement "We’re encouraging people to be patient," said Lori Braughton, manager of Providence Senior Services, which organizes a series of immunization clinics every fall. "There will be a supply (of vaccine). They will get a shot." Jackson County public health officials plan to use the vaccine they have received to immunize nursing home residents and others who are the "highest of the high risk," said Hank Collins, director of Health and Human Services. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the two-tiered distribution system to avoid problems that surfaced in recent years when there was not enough flu vaccine to go around. Production difficulties in 2004 forced one manufacturer to destroy millions of doses of vaccine, and there was not enough time to produce replacement stocks. Four manufacturers are producing two kinds of influenza vaccine to the U.S. market during the 2005�06 influenza season, according to the CDC Web site. Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., projects production of up to 60 million doses of inactivated influenza vaccine (the material that is used for flu shots). Chiron Corporation, which had to destroy its vaccine in 2004, projects production of 18�26 million doses of inactivated influenza vaccine. GlaxoSmithKline projects production of 8 million doses of inactivated influenza vaccine for U.S. distribution. MedImmune Vaccines, Inc., which produces the Flu-Mist nasal-spray vaccine (a weakened form of the live virus) expects to have at least 3 million doses available for distribution. The nasal spray vaccine is available to people between the ages of 5 and 49, the age range of patients to whom it was administered during federal approval trials. Scientists make new vaccine every year to combat the strains of the influenza virus that seem likely to be most active during the coming winter. Virus strains are identified by a place name where they were first identified and a letter-and-number code that describes the basic virus type. The vaccine prepared for the 2005-2006 season was made to combat three strains: A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1)-like virus; A/California/7/2003 (H3N2)-like virus; and B/Shanghai/361/2002-like virus. Every year 5 percent to 20 percent of the people in the United States come down with the influenza virus. Public health officials estimate that more than 200,000 people are hospitalized with complications from the virus, and as many as 36,000 people die from the flu. While public health officials urge seniors and people with health problems to get vaccinated, some people should avoid them, including those who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, because the vaccine is grown in eggs. Others who should avoid the vaccine include those who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past; people who have developed Guillain-Barr� syndrome within six weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously; and children less than 6 months of age. People who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever should postpone vaccination until their symptoms diminish. Braughton, who supervises the Providence vaccination program, said it’s too early to predict the intensity of the flu this season. "I heard they were still vacillating about whether it will be a bad flu season or just a normal one." To learn more about the 2005-06 flu season, visit the Web site at: www.cdc.gov/flu Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail Keeping the flu at bay ">[email protected] . Flu clinics scheduled in Jackson County so far Many public flu shot clinics have been scheduled around Jackson County. Other sites may be announced later. Only seniors and others in federally defined priority groups will have access to the vaccine until Oct. 24. Prices vary, but flu shots typically cost around $20. Clinics often accept health insurance or Medicare, but people should come prepared to pay or bring adequate insurance information. Call the provider if you have questions. Many of these sites also are listed on one of two Web sites: www.getaflushot.com and www.findaflushot.com Oct. 11, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Jacksonville Chiropractic Clinic, 580 Blackstone Alley. Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., West Main Pharmacy, 2355 Jacksonville Highway, Medford. Oct. 13, 3 to 7 p.m., Costco, 3639 Crater Lake Highway, Medford. Oct. 15, noon to 6 p.m., Tark’s Sentry Market, 215 E. Wagner Ave., Talent. Oct. 16, noon to 6 p.m., Tark’s Sentry Market, Talent. Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Costco. Oct. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ashland Pharmacy, 275 E. Main St., Ashland. Oct. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Costco. Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Costco. Oct. 29, noon to 6 p.m. Tark’s Sentry Market, Talent. Oct. 31, 3 to 7 p.m., Costco. Nov. 5, noon to 6 p.m. Tark’s Sentry Market, Talent. Nov. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Costco. Nov. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Providence Senior Services, 769 Spring St., Medford. Nov. 8, 3 to 7 p.m., Costco. Nov. 8, 9 to 11 a.m., Eagle Point Senior Center, 121 Loto St., Eagle Point. Nov. 8, 1 to 3 p.m., Rogue River Community Center, 132 Broadway, Rogue River. Nov. 10, 9 to 11 a.m., Upper Rogue Community Center, 22465 Highway 62, Shady Cove. Nov. 10, 1 to 3 p.m., Medford Senior Center, 510 E. Main St., Medford. Nov. 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Central Point Senior Center, 123 N. Second St., Central Point. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Advertisement s