State urges California seniors to get flu shots.

State Health Director Diana M. Bonta, R.N., Dr.P.H., late last year urged seniors and other individuals who are at risk for flu-related complications, such as pneumonia, to receive a flu shot as soon as possible to safeguard their health during the flu season. This places residents of assisted living facilities as top priority candidates for vaccinations.

"The flu season arrived earlier than usual across the nation last year and caused many illnesses," Bonta said. "More illnesses, as well as hospitalizations and deaths, can be prevented if high-risk individuals receive a flu shot. The supply of vaccine is plentiful."

Influenza, also called the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. Every year, more than 114,000 people in the United States are hospitalized and approximately 36,000 people die because of the flu or its complications.

It is impossible to accurately predict in advance how severe the flu season will be. However, California's influenza monitoring system shows many more individuals sick with flu at this time of year than during a normal year. Typically, the peak of California's flu season occurs from late December through January.

Also, in laboratory tests from across the country, a greater proportion of specimens testing positive for influenza are type A (H3N2). Historically, A (H3N2) viruses have been associated with more severe flu seasons during which higher numbers of influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths have occurred.

Influenza viruses are changing all the time, and vaccine effectiveness depends, in part, on the match between vaccine strains and circulating viruses. Although the strain in this year's flu vaccine is somewhat different from the main circulating strain causing illness in the United States, laboratory studies indicate that the vaccine should provide significant protection.

Bonta recommended that the following individuals get vaccinated:

* Individuals age 50 and older.

* Adults and children with chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma, diabetes, kidney problems or blood disorders.

* Children and adolescents age 6 months to 18 years who receive long-term aspirin therapy.

* Healthcare workers and caregivers who come in close contact with individuals at high risk for flu complications.

* Infants and children ages 6 through 23 months.

* Any other individual who does not want to get the flu.

The flu begins with an abrupt onset of fever, muscle aches, sore throat and cough that often make people sick enough to keep them in bed for several days. Seniors are more likely than others to become seriously ill because as people age, their immune systems don't respond as well. Seniors and high-risk individuals of any age also are recommended to receive the pneumococcal vaccine to protect against related bacterial illnesses.

"Because the flu vaccine is created from inactive flu viruses, it does not pose any risk of giving recipients symptoms associated with the flu," noted Bonta. "A flu shot is your best protection against the flu."

Bonta also reminded parents to avoid giving children or adolescents who are sick with flu or fever aspirin or medications containing salicylates, common ingredients in many cold medications. These ingredients have been associated with the development of Reye's syndrome, which can lead to coma, brain damage and even death in children and teenagers suffering from the flu, flu-like illnesses or chickenpox.

To limit the spread of influenza and other respiratory illnesses, Bonta urged flu patients to limit their contact with others, wash their hands frequently with soap and water and cover their mouth with a tissue when they cough.

The California Department of Health Services (CDHS) provided additional guidelines to lessen the impact of a potential influenza outbreak. Those guidelines included asking patients with respiratory symptoms to wear surgical masks, segregating those patients from others and urging all healthcare workers to receive an influenza vaccination.

CDHS, through ongoing clinics offered by California's local health departments, has distributed more than 520,000 doses of influenza vaccine at low or no cost. Part B Medicare beneficiaries can receive free influenza and pneumococcal shots from their health plans. In addition, many non-traditional sites, such as supermarkets and drug stores, host special flu clinics. To obtain influenza and pneumococcal immunizations, individuals should call their medical provider or local health department.

Information for this article was provided by the California Department of Health Services.