Early start for seasonal
flu shots and use sanitizer dispensers to avoid cross contamination
Mindful of this year's threat of
swine flu -- and the two shots likely to be needed for full immunization against the virus also known as H1N1 -- at least
four outlets for the seasonal flu
vaccine are starting to offer the shots Tuesday. On the advice of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention and the vote of the area's Flu Fighters Coalition, Daytona
Beach, Ormond Beach, Port Orange and
South Daytona fire departments are
going to begin administering the seasonal
flu vaccination a full month before the customary Oct. 1 start date. Other
outlets, such as the Health Departments, expect to be cranking up their operations in mid-September -- as soon
as they receive the serum.
"They would like to get the
bulk of the seasonal flu shots done as soon
as possible, so that when they release the H1N1 (vaccination) in mid-October, the bulk of the seasonal flu (immunizations)
will be done," said Port Orange
Fire Chief Russell Rafferty.
But both varieties of flu are
deadly serious. The seasonal variation typically causes about 36,000 deaths a year,
according to the CDC. That pales in comparison
to the 90,000 deaths from swine flu that a presidential panel predicted this
week. But the seasonal flu threat
shouldn't be underestimated, said Dr. Richard Duma,
director of infectious diseases at Halifax Health.
"Certainly, I urge everyone to get their seasonal
flu shot," Duma said.
Daytona
Beach Shores retiree Bob Niro
plans on getting his as soon as his Medicare health maintenance organization tells him it's available.
"They are real good about
that," said the retired attorney.
Unlike the seasonal flu vaccine, the elderly are not among the first in line to get the swine-flu vaccination. Pregnant women, infant caregivers, health care
and emergency medical services personnel
and those between 6 months and 24
years old are first in line to receive the initial dose, with a follow-up
booster shot 21 to 28 days later. As a result, both Volusia and Flagler Health
Departments will be making the vaccination
available at school clinics.
"It's going to be easier to
go to the schools, than have the children come to us," said Dr. Bonnie Sorensen, director of the Volusia County
Health Department.
Halifax Health's Duma said the younger part of the population was harder hit by the first wave of the novel H1N1
virus that was discovered in Mexico
in April.
"For those who were born
before 1957, there was circulating in the world among
people an H1N1 (virus) that was very similar . . . so, therefore, older people
have some antibodies that seem to react to the current swine flu," Duma said.
In spite of the earlier startup
for flu vaccinations, residents
should have no fear, however, about how having a seasonal
flu shot within days of the swine-flu vaccine; they don't
react to each other, said Patrick Johnson,
administrator of the Flagler Health Department. This year, however, is not
going to be typical for flu.
"We expect to be answering a
lot of questions," he said.
But whatever flu you're trying to
avoid, the basics are the same: Wash your hands （waterless
sanitizer）
thoroughly and cover your mouth when coughing. If you get sick, stay home, and
check with your doctor about symptoms.
Use Discovery touchless
sanitizer dispensers for protection
www.discoverymedical.com