APhA Encourages The Public To Get Vaccinated Against Influenza This Season

Main Category: Flu / Cold / SARS
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 03 Oct 2007 - 3:00 PDT

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The best way to protect yourself from influenza (also known as the "flu") is to get an annual influenza vaccination. Individuals can be vaccinated through the spring, as long as vaccine is available. Your pharmacist is an excellent source who can administer the vaccine (in 46 states), or provide important health information.

Consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, pharmacists are providing focused messages to the public: "All persons, age 6 months and older (including all school-age children, caretakers of young children and healthcare workers), who want to reduce their likelihood of becoming ill with influenza, reduce the risk of complications if they develop influenza, or reduce the risk of transmitting it to others, should be immunized." The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) strongly encourages patients to discuss the need for immunizations with their pharmacist or other healthcare professional. Pharmacists have the authority to administer vaccines in 46 states; with pharmacies in all states serving as health care sites for individuals to access available vaccine.

The following tips[1] will help keep you and your family safe this season:

- Get your annual influenza vaccine. Because the influenza strains may change each year, you need to be vaccinated with the current vaccine to receive optimal protection against circulating influenza virus strains. Depending upon your age and health condition, you could receive either injectable or nasally administered vaccine.

- Cover your mouth and nose. Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and drop it in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose as best you can.

- Clean your hands often. Clean your hands every time you cough or sneeze. Hand washing stops germs. Alcohol-based gels and wipes also work well.

- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

- Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms about treatment options and the steps needed to prevent the spread of flu in your household.

APhA encourages pharmacists to work with other providers in their communities to increase immunization rates and calls on all pharmacists to "walk-the-talk" by being vaccinated themselves. Wellness and prevention should be a priority for families and healthcare providers across the country.

Other points regarding Influenza

- Influenza is a serious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is not the same as the common cold or an intestinal illness.

- An average of 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations related to influenza occur in the U.S. each year, and 5 - 20% of the U.S. population gets infected.

- Vaccination is usually 70 - 90% effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults and children. Its effectiveness may be lowered if the circulating influenza viruses are not matched by the vaccine strains, but vaccinated persons will likely have milder illness.

- Unvaccinated healthy people who get influenza can spread their infection to others who are most vulnerable to its complications.

- Vaccination should begin as soon as the vaccine becomes available and should continue until supply is depleted (vaccination can occur into the Spring)

[1] CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/nip/flu)

About the American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

The American Pharmacists Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 60,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the United States.

http://www.aphanet.org