2008 Woodie Awards
Flu vaccine for high-risk cases only
Andy Joyce
Issue date: 10/14/04 Section: Health
- Page 1 of 1
Coughing, wheezing, sneezing and general
misery mark the beginning of another flu season. October and November are the best times to get vaccinated, but this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you may be out of luck.
On Oct. 5th, the Medical Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHPRA) in the United Kingdom suspended a British manufacture's license to produce the flu vaccine. Chiron, the company liable, produces over 30 million doses of the influenza vaccine. The suspension, lasting three months, will cut the United States supply of the flu vaccine in half.
This is an urgent situation and CDCP has created immediate priority groups for available vaccinations. The priority list distributed by the CDC includes all children aged 6-23 months, adults ages 65 and older, persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions and all women who will be pregnant during the flu season. It also entails residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, children aged 6-18 years on chronic aspirin therapy, health care workers involved in direct patient care and out of home caregivers and household contacts of children aged 6 months.
The remaining supply of 54 million influenza vaccinations will be made available, and out of these doses, about 30 million have already been distributed by the manufacturer, Aventis Pastuer, Inc. Approximately 1 million doses of live attenuated influenza vaccine will be made available
this season by MeddImmune Corporation.
At Marist, there isn't an immediate scare of a widespread and destructive influenza epidemic. Most students have at least heard that there's been a shortage of vaccinations in the United States.
"I'm not really afraid; I'd think they would be able to control it before the flu has a big impact" said Caitlin Viani, a sophomore.
Martine Alimena, a junior, sees the need most people would have for an annual flu shot. "I'm not worried. I think most people my age look at getting flu shots as something of a routine," Alimena said. "I feel at this point, only people in need should receive the vaccinations."
Until vaccinations are more widely available, the CDC is promoting good health and awareness tip for Americans this flu season. Among some of these tips are to avoid close contact with those who are already sick, and if you are sick, try and avoid those who aren't. This includes getting rest and preventing the spread of germs with tissues and frequent hand washing. Avoid touching germ catching areas of the body like your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Jane O'Brien, director of Health Services, says "stress is a big problem in undermining the immune system response." Outside factors in your daily routine can affect your immunity to illnesses like the flu.
misery mark the beginning of another flu season. October and November are the best times to get vaccinated, but this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you may be out of luck.
On Oct. 5th, the Medical Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHPRA) in the United Kingdom suspended a British manufacture's license to produce the flu vaccine. Chiron, the company liable, produces over 30 million doses of the influenza vaccine. The suspension, lasting three months, will cut the United States supply of the flu vaccine in half.
This is an urgent situation and CDCP has created immediate priority groups for available vaccinations. The priority list distributed by the CDC includes all children aged 6-23 months, adults ages 65 and older, persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions and all women who will be pregnant during the flu season. It also entails residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, children aged 6-18 years on chronic aspirin therapy, health care workers involved in direct patient care and out of home caregivers and household contacts of children aged 6 months.
The remaining supply of 54 million influenza vaccinations will be made available, and out of these doses, about 30 million have already been distributed by the manufacturer, Aventis Pastuer, Inc. Approximately 1 million doses of live attenuated influenza vaccine will be made available
this season by MeddImmune Corporation.
At Marist, there isn't an immediate scare of a widespread and destructive influenza epidemic. Most students have at least heard that there's been a shortage of vaccinations in the United States.
"I'm not really afraid; I'd think they would be able to control it before the flu has a big impact" said Caitlin Viani, a sophomore.
Martine Alimena, a junior, sees the need most people would have for an annual flu shot. "I'm not worried. I think most people my age look at getting flu shots as something of a routine," Alimena said. "I feel at this point, only people in need should receive the vaccinations."
Until vaccinations are more widely available, the CDC is promoting good health and awareness tip for Americans this flu season. Among some of these tips are to avoid close contact with those who are already sick, and if you are sick, try and avoid those who aren't. This includes getting rest and preventing the spread of germs with tissues and frequent hand washing. Avoid touching germ catching areas of the body like your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Jane O'Brien, director of Health Services, says "stress is a big problem in undermining the immune system response." Outside factors in your daily routine can affect your immunity to illnesses like the flu.