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The Colorado Enhanced Influenza Surveillance Project 2008-2009:  

The best way to project yourself AND the more susceptible members of our community is to have a flu shot. 

 
swine


 

What can you do to stop the spread of germs (that is bacteria and viruses)? 

Well, it is quite simple; your mother or grandmother probably already told you what to do (but perhaps you were not listening!)

  • Cover your mouth and nose
  • Clean your hands often
  • Remind your children to practice healthy habits, too
Because distribution centers have favored large immunization settings, we will have very limited flu vaccine for the 2008-2009 season. 

We are advising our patients to get flu shots; to find a location, use the online clinic locator
or call 303-692-2633.

  

Priority Groups for Influenza Vaccination

  • children aged 6–23 months;
  • adults aged 65 years and older;
  • persons aged 2–64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions;
  • women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
  • residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
  • children aged 6 months–18 years on chronic aspirin therapy;
  • health-care workers involved in direct patient care; and
  • out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged <6 months.

 

 

 

flu virus structure

 

Other Vaccination Recommendations

• Persons in priority groups identified above should be encouraged to search locally for vaccine if their regular health-care provider does not have vaccine available.
• Intranasally administered, live, attenuated influenza vaccine, (Flumist™), if available, should be encouraged for healthy persons who are aged 5–49 years and are not pregnant, including health-care workers (except those who care for severely immunocompromised patients in special care units) and persons caring for children aged <6 months.
• Certain children aged <9 years require 2 doses of vaccine if they have not previously been vaccinated. All children at high risk for complications from influenza, including those aged 6–23 months, who present for vaccination, should be vaccinated with a first or second dose, depending on vaccination status. However, doses should not be held in reserve to ensure that 2 doses will be available. Instead, available vaccine should be used to vaccinate persons in priority groups on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Persons Who Should Not Receive Influenza Vaccine

Persons in the following groups should not receive influenza vaccine before talking with their doctor:
• persons with a severe allergy (i.e., anaphylactic allergic reaction) to hens' eggs and
• persons who previously had onset of Guillain-Barré syndrome during the 6 weeks after receiving influenza vaccine.

Medications for the Flu:  info link

These medications MUST be started within 48 hours of onset of the flu symptoms; they shorten the course of the illness by 1 to 2 days. They are primarily used for people at high risk of complications such as
  • people over 65 years of age
  • people with chronic medical problems
  • pregnant women. 

Come in immediately if you are in one of these groups and think that you have the flu.
revised : 24-Dec-2009