Yes, You Can Still Get Shot! |
It's that time of year again. The Flu is here and here now!
A lot of you still don't believe in Flu Shots!
For those that do believe, you may have been put off by the reportage
shortage of Vaccine this year.
So, is there really a shortage? Yes, and No. If
you went to get a Flue Shot at the beginning of the season in early October, you may have had a hard time finding a
place to get a shot, if you were not in the high risk category.
It is now December. Any
one can find and get a Flu Shot, and everyone (almost, see below, for those few
who should not) should get one.
Is I was writing this article I called
some Urgent Care Centers, Pharmacies, and my own doctors office.
It took some doing but I did find a place near me to get a shot.
On calling Urgent Care Centers most if they had any Vaccine
had restrictions on it. A few did
not. On calling Pharmacies I had no
luck with the big chain outlets. I
did find some "mom and pop" Pharmacies that had the Vaccine with no
restrictions. My own doctor's
office had none, and was not expecting any for 3 more weeks.
To be honest, yes there is a shortage, sort of.
What happened is that the manufacturing of this years Vaccine got a late
start. There will be just as much
available as last year. The supply
is just slow in coming.
Now the Flue session can last as long as next April or May,
so getting a shot even in December or January is a good idea.
You have two choices.
Put up with having to hunt down a shot, or put up with two weeks of being
in total misery with the Flue.
I decided to get shot. What are you going to do?
Here is the original Flue article from years past:
|
"Get
Shot... Or You’ll Wish You Had Been" |
The flu takes more then just a toll on people. It can really mess up a business. Last year here in Los Angeles, California, every person I know that got the flu was out of it for a week. That’s a lot of time for a lot of people to lose from work. Even in a large office you can look forward to a great loss in productivity as the flu makes the rounds.
If you think losing time from your work and the financial loss that goes with it is a bummer, you haven’t felt anything yet. Just imagine how you will feel for that week.
So, BizNet Magazine is TELLING ALL OF YOU. GET A FLU SHOT!
The year before last, the flu kicked my butt. Last year I got a flu shot. When the flu made its rounds I did not get it. Lots of friends and business associates did. I know, I was repeatedly exposed to it. So this year I’m getting another shot. Now, just so you know…if I’m willing to get a Flu shot everyone should be. You see, we all have our little phobias. Mine is needles. I hate just thinking about a shot. Makes my skin crawl (writing this article bugs me). Last year I got my shot from an off duty harpoonist and I had the bruise to prove it. My arm felt like the vaccine was pounded into it. But the effects of the flu are so bad, that I was glad I got the shot. I’m doing it again this year. So if I can get shot, so can you.
Remember
that if you get the flu, you will wish someone would just shoot you. It’s no
fun. So get shot first.
Even More Information For You
This is from the CDC web site:
June
22, 2000 |
Flu
Season 2000-01 |
|
FLU
BASICS |
|
|
Flu
Season 2000-01: See also... |
Flu Season 2000-01
The Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working closely with vaccine manufacturers to facilitate the availability of safe and effective influenza vaccine for the upcoming flu season. Influenza vaccine manufacturers have told FDA and CDC to expect delays in flu vaccine shipments and that it is possible there will be reductions of available influenza virus vaccine for the 2000-01 season.
The total amount of vaccine available for the influenza season is uncertain at this time. However, both FDA and CDC are actively working with manufacturers to determine how much and when vaccine will be available. The amount of available flu vaccine will become clearer over the next two months.
CDC
has a Flu Vaccine
Supply website to help health professionals find sources of
this years flu vaccine. CDC has also available a cybercast on the 2000-2001
Update on Preparing for Next Influenza Pandemic at this link:
http://www.cdc.gov/phtn/pandemic/pan-cybrinfo.htm
Who is at highest risk for complications from influenza?
Persons at high risk for complications from influenza should receive annual vaccination and include the following:
Will those at highest risk from complications be able to get a flu shot?
It is important to stress that FDA, CDC and vaccine manufacturers are confident that vaccine will be available to vaccinate those at highest risk of complications from influenza, including those over 65, those who are immunosuppressed and others.
If a substantial shortfall of vaccine were to occur, the ACIP and CDC would provide modified recommendations for the 2000-2001 influenza season that emphasize vaccinating persons at highest risk of death from influenza (and the health care workers who take care of them) and then vaccinating, as the vaccine supply allows, the other groups for whom vaccine is traditionally recommended.
Why is there a delay in vaccine availability?
The amount of vaccine available is complicated by two important factors: 1) the yield for this year's influenza vaccine A(H3N2) component appears to be lower than expected which limits the supply that can be developed in time for this flu season and, 2) other manufacturing issues. Manufacturers are working closely with the FDA to address these issues.
Is there an alternative to flu shots?
Currently, four antiviral drugs are approved by the FDA to treat acute, uncomplicated influenza. These drugs are not a substitute for influenza vaccine and should not be used as such. The annual use of influenza vaccine is the primary means for minimizing adverse outcomes from influenza virus infections.
Over the course of the influenza season new information is expected to become available, and CDC and FDA will issue information updates.
Flu Season 2000-01: See also...
|
Direct contact information:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Immunization Information Hotline
1-800-232-2522
http://www.cdc.gov
Food and Drug Administration
1-888-463-6332
http://www.fda.gov
Send mail to editor@biznetonline.com with questions or comments about this web
site.
Copyright © 1997 ~BizNet OnLine Magazine
Last modified: November 08, 2002