Fill-in-Blank News Release for County Health Departments

For Release: _____, 2003
Contact: __________
_____ County Health Department
(Phone)

Flu Shot Clinics Target High Risk Persons

The _____ County Health Department announced today that it will be conducting flu clinics beginning in (month) at various locations. This year, _____ County Health Department is scheduled to receive only 70 percent of state-funded orders for 2003 to conduct this year’s flu vaccination services.

“The primary reason for reduced supply of state-funded orders of vaccines is due to increased costs of the vaccine. Costs increased from $2.65 to the range of $6.77-$8.76 per dose for this 2003-2004 flu season,” said _____ County Health Department Administrative Director _____.

Persons at highest risk for flu or pneumonia will be encouraged to be vaccinated first this year, followed by persons at lower risk, according to _____. Persons at high risk for flu complications include the following:

• persons 65 years of age and older;
• healthy children 6 to 23 months of age;
• persons 2 years and older with chronic metabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications);
• health care workers; and
• household contacts of persons at increased risk of influenza-related complications (including contacts of infants less than 6 months old who are not eligible for influenza vaccine).

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) also recommends the vaccination of persons aged 50 to 64. However, due to limited supply of vaccine, the health department recommends these persons not be vaccinated until November with the general population, as supplies are available.

The flu clinic schedule for the _____ County Health Department is:
(date/time/place)
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________.

Also, health officials recommend that persons 65 and older and those with chronic health conditions check their records for pneumococcal vaccination to reduce the risk of pneumonia resulting from influenza or other respiratory illnesses. This vaccine is available at physicians’ offices and the _____ County Health Department.

For more information about flu shots and clinics scheduled in your area, call the health department at (phone number).

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