Flu Vaccination Should Reach More People Says CDC

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Main Category: Flu / Cold / SARS
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Article Date: 12 Nov 2007 - 3:00 PST

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There should be more flu vaccines to go round than ever before this season, said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday last week. According the agency, the national supply of flu vaccinations distributed by manufacturers since 2nd November exceeds 103 million doses. This is more than ever before.

Dr Jeanne Santoli, deputy director of CDC's Immunization Services Division said this was good news because:

"Influenza vaccine appears to be more widely available than ever before, and we want people who should be receiving an annual flu vaccination to be sure that they do."

"Thanks to the increased production of flu vaccine, more people than ever can get protection from a potentially very serious disease. We are hopeful that this year a record number of people will get vaccinated," said Santoli.

Every year, up to one in five people in the US gets the flu, which kills 36,000 Americans and puts more than 200,000 in hospital.

The CDC said it believes there should be enough vaccine doses to meet demand, and foresee a capacity to produce 132 million doses by the end of the 2007-08 flu season, based on data supplied by the manufacturers. This would exceed the the number available during the 2006-07 season by some 12 million doses.

In order to make sure every outlet receives at least some supplies, the CDC has encouraged manufacturers to send partial shipments to everyone to start with, and then go back and complete shipments later. So some healthcare providers may find only part of their order has arrived, but more will come later, through December and early January, said Santoli.

This year's flu season is just starting, and across the US the prevalence so far has been quite low, with only two states reporting outbreaks. It is not unusual for flu outbreaks to start as early as October in the US, and for the season to last through to May the following year.

The CDC recommends that 75 per cent of the American population should receive a flu vaccination. Health care workers and those at higher risk of having medical complications if they get the flu should be a high priority.

Anyone can get the flu, but it's particularly dangerous for certain groups who may be vulnerable to complications like pneumonia. These groups include: the very young, people aged 65 and over, women who are pregnant, and anyone with a chronic illness such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

People who are in daily close contact with the vulnerable groups given above, such as other members of the family or household, carers, and health care professionals should also get vaccinated said the CDC.

Because babies under 6 months should not be vaccinated, anyone who cares for them or comes into daily contact with them should also get vaccinated as a precaution.

The start and length of a flu season is variable and not easy to predict, and different strains come and go, even within the same season. However, the CDC recommends that vaccination be offered throughout the season, for as long as the virus is around.

Click here for CDC Seasonal Flu website.

Written by: Catharine Paddock

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