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CONTACT: Stephanie Marquis, 608-266-1683
IMMUNIZE NOW FOR PROTECTION AGAINST SEASONAL INFLUENZA
MADISON - State health officials are encouraging individuals to
get immunized against seasonal influenza now, before the coming winter
season. There is plenty of seasonal influenza vaccine on hand, and health
care providers and local health departments should be able to immunize all
who wish to be vaccinated.
“While many people are closely watching the H1N1 influenza threat and
are waiting for that vaccine, we must not overlook the importance of being
immunized against seasonal influenza as well,” says Department Secretary
Karen Timberlake. “A vaccine for H1N1 influenza probably won’t be
available until late October, but the seasonal influenza vaccine is
available now. It would be prudent for people to get immunized for
seasonal influenza while we await developments on H1N1.”
Annual influenza immunization is needed for protection. Influenza
viruses can change each year; therefore, influenza vaccines are developed
for each season. Seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for:
- persons 50 years old or older
- women who are or will be in their second or third trimester of
pregnancy during the influenza season
- children and adolescents who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
- healthy children 6 months through 5 years of age
- persons 6 months of age or older with heart or lung problems
requiring regular medical follow-up or recent hospitalization, cancer
or immunologic disorders, AIDS and related conditions, kidney disease,
cystic fibrosis, diabetes, anemia, and asthma
Persons who need influenza vaccine should contact their health care
provider or their local health department. Local businesses and
organizations may also offer influenza vaccination clinics, and these may
be advertised in local media.
Each year, millions of people in the United States become ill with
seasonal influenza. Some 200,000 people are admitted to hospitals across
the country and about 36,000 people die each year as a result of seasonal
influenza.
Influenza activity in Wisconsin usually begins in November and peaks
around late January or early February. The past several influenza seasons
in Wisconsin were relatively mild, but the severity of influenza outbreaks
cannot be predicted. Even relatively mild influenza seasons are associated
with thousands of hospitalizations and deaths.
Hospitalization rates are highest among children under age 1 and
persons 65 and older. Although most people with influenza recover
completely within two weeks, some people, especially the very young, the
elderly, and those with chronic diseases or impaired immune systems, can
develop life-threatening complications.
Seasonal influenza is different from a cold, mainly because the
symptoms and complications are more severe. Seasonal influenza viruses
infect the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs) in humans. The
onset of the disease usually occurs suddenly and symptoms typically
include fever, headache, malaise (a feeling of being ill and without
energy), cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.
For more information, visit:
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Immunization Program: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization
Influenza Fact Sheet: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/communicable/factsheets/Influenza.htm
Local Public Health Department Listing: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/localhealth
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Last Revised: October 09, 2009 |
