The Department for Public Health (DPH) recently recommended that Kentucky health care providers, including local health departments, follow new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines prioritizing high risk groups in giving the flu vaccine.

“Because of influenza vaccine distribution delays or vaccine supply shortages have occurred nationally here the last five flu seasons, the CDC has recommended that we prioritize high risk groups until late October,” said William Hacker, M.D., public health commissioner. “We do not yet know whether there will be a vaccine shortage this season. This policy will help ensure that there will be enough vaccine available for those at the highest risk for complications from the flu,” Hacker added.

This year, the CDC has broken the high risk groups into tiers, based on the amount of risk each group has for serious complications related to the flu. Given the uncertainties in doses and distribution this season, the DPH recommends that all Kentucky health care providers follow the CDC guidelines. According to the guidelines, the following first-tier priority groups should receive the flu vaccine in the order below until October 24, 2005.

Tier 1A

Individuals 65 years or older with chronic health conditions

Residents of long-term care facilities

Tier 1B

Individuals 2-64 years old with chronic health conditions

Individuals older than 65 without chronic health problems

Children 6-23 months old

Pregnant women

Tier 1C

Health care workers who provide direct patient care

Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months old

The DPH has already asked that local local health departments, including the Grayson County Health Center, vaccinate priority groups in a step-wise progression, initially vaccinating the eligible population in category 1A, followed by the population in category 1B, and continuing with category 1C prior to October 24. Kentuckians in these high risk categories should contact their local health departments or primary care provider to find out when vaccination or clinic will be available for their category.

If an adequate flu vaccine is available nationally after October 24, it is anticipated that vaccination will be opened up to everyone. Healthy people aged 5-49 years old who are not pregnant can also receive the nasal flu vaccine at any time.

However, the flu vaccine is not the only way to protect against complications from the flu. “In addition to flu vaccine, we strongly encourage all adults 65 years or older and others in high risk groups to ask their health care provider about the pneumococcal vaccine, which can help prevent pneumonia, one of the flu’s most serious and deadly complications,” Hacker said. “This vaccine is extremely safe, effective, and can be taken at any time of the year and is currently available in an adequate supply.” Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria and can result in serious pneumonia, meningitis or blood infections.

According to the CDC, pneumococcal disease kills more people in the U.S. each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined. Between 20,000 and 40,000 deaths are attributed to flu and pneumonia nationally each year, with more than 90 percent of those deaths occurring in people age 65 and older.

The Grayson County Health Department will be having their annual flu clinic on the following dates:

Monday, October 17:

Vaccine available only for people in Tier 1A

Tuesday, October 18:

Vaccine available for people in Tier 1B

Thursday, October 20:

vaccine available for people in Tier 1C

The flu clinics will be held at the Grayson County Health Department at 124 East White Oak Street in Leitchfield and will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. For more information on the 2005-06 flu season, contact the Grayson County Health Department at (270) 259-3141 or visit the CDC’s website atwww.cdc.gov/ flu/.