Washington State Awareness Campaign Kicks Off Flu Shot Season; Theme of ''It's Never Too Late'' Tells the Whole Story.

News Editors, Health/Medical Writers

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2002

The Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW) today announced the start of a statewide awareness campaign urging people to obtain a flu vaccination before January 1.

IACW recommends following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, which state that members of higher-risk groups should obtain their flu shots in October. Lower-risk groups should obtain their vaccinations in November and December. IACW is a non-profit organization of health care professionals in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

"It's never too late to get a flu shot, no matter who you are," said Leslie J. Barnette, Jr., MD, IACW adult subcommittee chair and medical director, healthcare improvement, Washington for Qualis Health. "While our goal is to immunize seniors and other high-risk groups first, we don't want to overlook anyone. Many people do not realize that flu season peaks in February, so even if it is December 31, it is not too late to get a flu shot. Even February is not too late!"

Groups at high risk of complications from the flu include people aged 50 or more; residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities; adults and children older than six months who are chronically ill; children and teens on long-term aspirin therapy; and women who will be more than three months pregnant during the flu season.

Health care workers and family members of high-risk people, including healthy children aged 6 months through 23 months, should also obtain a flu shot in October. Members of the general population can wait until November or even December to be vaccinated in time for the flu season. The season generally runs from December through March, with February being the peak month. Even February is not to late to get a flu shot because adults typically reach peak antibody protection against the flu two weeks after immunization.

"Flu can be a life-threatening illness, yet flu can often be prevented with a vaccination," said Washington State Health Officer, Dr. Maxine Hayes. "People in high-risk groups and those who live with them should get their shots starting now. For everyone else, receiving the vaccine later in the season will still be effective."

Unlike past years, there is not expected to be a shortage of flu vaccine this year. About 94 million doses of vaccine are expected to be shipped by manufacturers for the 2002-2003 flu season. The vaccine is now available.

WHERE TO RECEIVE THE FLU SHOT

Vaccinations are widely available at public health clinics, private health care providers, retailers such as pharmacies and a number of other locations. For more information, individuals should contact their local health department or health care provider.

The cost of the flu shot is expected to range between $18 and $20. Medicare part B covers the vaccination in full. Individuals with private health insurance should check their policies.

THE CAMPAIGN

A public awareness campaign will distribute informational flyers and posters to health care professionals through Washington for distribution to individuals. Flyers will also be distributed by retailers. The flyers and posters emphasize, in a humorous and memorable manner, the key themes of the campaign: that people at high-risk and their family members should get a shot in October and everyone else in November or December, and that it is never too late in the year to get a flu shot. The "It's Never Too Late" awareness campaign is sponsored by IACW in collaboration with Aventis Pasteur, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Washington, Qualis Health and the Washington State Department of Health.

FLU FACTS

According to the CDC,

-- An estimated 20,000 or more influenza-associated deaths occurred during flu epidemics between 1972 and 1995

-- An average of 114,000 hospitalizations per year are related to influenza, 50 percent of which are among people aged 65 or older

-- In nursing homes, attack rates may be as high as 60 percent and fatality rates may be as high as 30 percent

-- More than 90 percent of the deaths from flu and pneumonia are in people aged 65 or older

-- Seventy percent of the deaths from influenza and pneumonia are preventable by vaccine

-- Influenza and pneumonia are the sixth leading cause of death in the nation

-- The vaccine for this year protects against the Type A-Panama, Type A-New Caledonia and Type B- Hong Kong strains.

ABOUT THE IMMUNIZATION ACTION COALITION OF WASHINGTON

Founded in 1994, the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington (IACW) consists of 250 members representing public and private communities across the state. Its mission is to increase public awareness about the importance of immunizations and to achieve and maintain full immunization of all infants, children, adolescents and adults across Washington. IACW is a program of the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Washington and is supported by the Washington State Department of Health.