Washington, DC- The District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) recently announced an update on the District of Columbia's flu plan. This includes the expansion of the priority groups for flu vaccination; the availability of vaccines for purchase through the DOH; and flu clinics for District residents in the priority groups.
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expanded the recommended list of flu vaccine priority groups. Flu vaccine is recommended for persons in the following priority groups: - All children aged 6–23 months
- Adults aged equal to or greater than 65 years
- Persons aged 2–64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions
- All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
- Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- Children aged 2–18 years on chronic aspirin therapy
- Health-care workers involved in direct patient care and
- Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged less than 6 months.
Where supply is sufficient, flu vaccine also is recommended for persons in the following additional priority groups: - Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of persons in high-risk groups (e.g., persons aged equal to or greater than 65 years; persons with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart or lung disease, or weakened immune systems because of illness or medication; and children aged less than 2 years) and
- All adults aged 50–64 years.
On December 17, 2004, the District of Columbia Department of Health lifted its flu vaccine emergency rule that was adopted on October 14, 2004. The rule prohibited health care providers from dispensing flu vaccine to anyone other than those in the designated priority groups.
"Since the onset of the flu season, our primary focus has been to ensure that all available vaccine in the District be distributed to individuals in the CDC priority groups," said DOH Director Dr. Gregg Pane. "Today, we are very confident that District’s supply of flu vaccine has been fairly distributed to those who need it most."
"Physicians can now administer the vaccine to individuals in the expanded priority group as long as the demand from their high-risk/high-priority patients has been met first," added Dr. Pane
Health care professionals and/or health care institutions that are interested in purchasing additional flu vaccine should contact the DOH Immunization Program immediately at (202) 576-7130 ext. 33.
This week, DOH will begin accepting appointments for flu vaccine clinics. Residents in the priority groups should call (202) 671-5000 for an appointment. During the two-day flu clinics held last month, 600 residents in the priority groups received the flu vaccination.
The flu season occurs between October and April, with the peak traditionally occurring in January and February. Currently, the District’s flu activity level was recently raised from "sporadic" to "local." The District’s first flu case was reported on November 1, 2004. DOH also recommends that seniors and people with chronic health problems receive pneumococcal vaccine as directed by their health care provider.
For additional information about this topic or other health issues, please contact the DOH at (202) 671-5000 or visit www.dchealth.dc.gov. |
