DHSS Press Release |
Date: November 19, 2004 DHSS-135-2004 |
| Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary Allison Taylor Levine, Communication Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 |
Contact: Heidi Truschel-Light Phone: (302) 744-4907 Pager: (302) 247-1560 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7,182 DELAWAREANS RECEIVE FLU SHOTS AT DPH CLINICS
Delawareans in high-risk groups can register next week for second round of clinic, Nov. 30
Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH) administered 7,182 shots at nine flu clinics around the state today between 12 and 4:30 p.m.
"Smooth as ice," one Sussex Countian said of the vaccination process. Most clients were checked in and received their shots in under 10 minutes.
On Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 22-23, DPH will schedule residents by phone for a second round of influenza vaccination clinics, which will be held around the state on Nov. 30. Residents must call 1-800-282-8672 on the day listed for their county of residence, as follows:
- Only Kent and Sussex County residents should call Monday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Only New Castle County residents should call Tuesday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
*** Residents may get busy signals and should keep trying. ***
Residents should not call for appointments at other times.
Residents should not call clinic sites for information or directions.
For directions, call the Delaware HelpLine, 800-464-HELP.
Appointments will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis ONLY for individuals who are:
- Age 65 years and older;
- Age 9-64 years with underlying chronic health conditions;
- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season, which is October 2004 - February 2005; or
- Age 9-18 years who are on chronic aspirin therapy.
DPH's current system of scheduling residents for clinic appointments should eliminate the need for these at-risk individuals to stand in line for long periods. DPH appreciates the public's patience as planning continues in order to handle the limited vaccine supply responsibly.
DPH received a shipment of 12,000 doses of influenza vaccine Nov. 16 as well as an additional 1,000 doses from community sources. With help from the Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group, DPH has designated 8,364 doses of the shipment for the Nov. 30 clinic for high-risk adults. Another 1,500 doses will be reserved for high-risk children 6 months to 9 years of age. Because children under 9 years receive half the adult dose, this will vaccinate 3,000 children. Plans for distribution of vaccine to these children will be announced as soon as they are complete. An additional 3,136 doses will be provided to patients of health-related groups that have requested vaccine from DPH.
DPH convened the Vaccine Allocation Advisory Group earlier this month to help allocate doses and anticipated shipments. Hospitals, physicians, infectious disease specialists, state legislators, and long-term care facilities are represented on this group. These professionals provide valuable assistance in the difficult task of determining how many high-risk individuals still need vaccination and how to best reach them.
Based on the advisory group's recommendations, Only five cases of influenza have been identified in Delaware. No additional influenza cases have been confirmed since Nov. 11. November remains an optimal month for vaccination since most influenza cases typically occur in January and February.
DPH recommends that people in the high-risk categories take the following steps:
- Watch the news for information about DPH clinics and how to make an appointment.
- Do not call or go to a hospital for flu vaccination. Hospitals are using their vaccine for their sickest patients and to assure that they have a healthy staff to provide care.
- Call your private physician to find out the likelihood and timing of receiving vaccine
- Veterans must be enrolled with the Veterans Administration to receive the vaccine through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Elsmere. For more information, call 302-633-5209.
- If you become sick with flu-like symptoms, call your doctor immediately. Your doctor can prescribe medicines that reduce the severity of flu if he or she knows within two days of the onset of flu symptoms.
- Ask your doctor about being vaccinated against pneumonia (pneumococcal vaccine), one of flu's most common and potentially severe complications.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
