subject: Signs ff Flu season upon us, CDC officials announce [print this page] Signs ff Flu season upon us, CDC officials announce
Signs ff Flu season upon us, CDC officials announce
The first signs that the flu season is upon us have arrived, says the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In some states, for example Georgia, reported cases of flu have suddenly raised so rapidly that state authorities are referring to a "regional outbreak". It seems that the virus strains identified so far closely match those used in this year's vaccinations, which is good news for those who had the jab.
The CDC has announced December 5 to 11th (2010) as National Influenza Vaccination Week. The aim is to stress the importance of vaccinations and to get as many people as possible immunized.
In a communiqu, the CDC wrote:
"National Influenza Vaccination Week provides an opportunity for public health professionals, health care professionals, health advocates, communities, and families from across the country to work together to promote flu vaccination before the traditional winter peak in flu activity."
During the 2010-2011 flu season, three influenza strains are expected to be present. Health authorities say every person aged 6 months or more should be vaccinated. Having the flu jab does not only protect you, but also those around you.
The three flu strains that will be circulating during the current/coming flu season, according to the CDCs' Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, are:
An A/H3N2 strain
A B strain
The H1N1 (2009) pandemic strain, which for a while was informally termed "swine flu"
The current vaccine protects against these three strains. The CDC says 160 vaccines have been distributed throughout the USA.
Dr. Anne Schuchat, Assistant Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service and CDC's Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said:
"The new vaccination recommendation shows the importance of preventing the flu in everyone. People who do not get vaccinated are taking two risks: first, they are placing themselves at risk for the flu, including a potentially long and serious illness, and second, if they get sick, they are also placing their close contacts at risk for influenza."
Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H.,Assistant Secretary for Health, said:
"The bottom line is, anyone - even healthy people - can get sick from the flu. Lead the way to better health for all by getting your flu shot."
The CDC says that the National Influenza Vaccination Week must engage at-risk audiences - people, who have not yet been immunized, individuals who are hesitant or unsure whether having the jab is good for them.
In Georgia, influenza B is the strain that is being seen most right now, Schuchat said. "The majority of B viruses from Georgia are related to the B virus that is in our vaccine, so we expect the vaccine to be a good match against this B strain that is already causing quite a bit of disease," she said.
The vaccine is also a good match for the other flu strains seen so far, including H1N1, H2N2 and the influenza B virus, officials said.
Schuchat believes that all Americans, except children under 6 months of age, should get a flu shot. "I strongly encourage people to get vaccinated to make sure you're protected and to make sure your children are protected too," she said.
Children under 9 years of age may need two doses of the vaccine to be protected, Schuchat noted.
Many Americans may be heeding the CDC's vaccination advice this year. "We are encouraged by the number of people who have already received the flu vaccine," Schuchat said.
According to an agency survey, as of mid-November about a third of Americans had already been immunized. Another 15 percent said they planned to get vaccinated and 25 percent said they probably would get vaccinated, Schuchat said. That's about the same as last year, she added.
The highest proportions of people who have been vaccinated are those 65 and older, with about 64 percent of vaccinations occurring among seniors, according to the survey.
In other CDC surveys, the agency found that 56 percent of health-care workers reported having gotten their flu shot. Another 7 percent plan to get vaccinated, Schuchat said.
Among pregnant women -- a group hit especially hard by H1N1 last flu season -- 45 percent said they had already been vaccinated and another 4 percent said they planned on getting the shot.
This year the vaccine is available at record levels, with more than 160 million doses already distributed, Schuchat said.
Speaking at the news conference, Dr. Howard Koh, assistant secretary for health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said that "flu activity is increasing across the country. If you've been thinking about getting vaccinated for influenza, now is a good time to do so."
The flu is unpredictable and potentially deadly, so everyone should get a flu shot, he also added.
Koh noted that under the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, all new health insurance plans will cover flu shots, with no co-pays.
According to CDC estimates, approximately 5 percent to 20 percent of Americans get the flu each year, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications. From 1976 to 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths ranged from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.
