Press Releases
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ADVISES INFLUENZA VACCINATION FOR HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS
Miami-Dade County - Today, Miami-Dade County Health Department (MDCHD) Administrator Lillian Rivera, R.N., M.S.N., in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, is encouraging high-risk individuals and health care workers to be given priority for influenza vaccination.
The Miami-Dade County Health Department has ordered their influenza vaccine supply from Aventis Pasteur, and has received a very minimal amount which will be used for high-risk individuals. At this time, MDCHD is awaiting to hear from Aventis Pasteur to find out whether they will be receiving the rest of the supply ordered.
“As we enter the flu season, finding vaccinations may be challenging. We urge high-risk individuals and health care workers to reach out and get vaccinated first,” said MDCHD Administrator Lillian Rivera, R.N., M.S.N..
High-risk individuals who should be vaccinated against influenza
include:
Persons 65 years and older;
Children aged 6 to 23 months;
-Residents and employees of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
that house persons of any age who have long-term illnesses;
-Persons 6 months of age and older who have chronic heart or lung conditions,
including asthma; or need regular medical care; or had to be in a hospital
because of metabolic diseases (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease,
or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by
medicine or by infection with HIV/AIDS);
-Children and teenagers 6 months to 18 years who are on long-term aspirin
therapy and therefore could develop Reye syndrome after the flu; and
-Women who will be pregnant during the flu season.
Additional individuals who should be vaccinated include:
Doctors, nurses, and other employees in hospitals and doctors' offices,
including emergency response workers, who have direct patient contact;
Caregivers of children younger than 6 months are also encouraged to receive
flu shots because children younger than 24 months may be at higher risk
for complications from influenza.
For healthy persons, simple steps can be taken to protect against flu.
Frequently washing hands and avoiding touching the nose, eyes, and mouth
will help avoid transmitting or getting the flu or other respiratory infections,
like a cold.
Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick, if possible.
Do not share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal
items.
Stay home when you are sick.
After coughing or sneezing, always clean your hands with soap and water
or an
alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze.
Throw used tissue away. If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into
your sleeve.
For more information about influenza and steps to protect individuals
and families, visit the Department of Health's website at www.doh.state.fl.us
or www.cdc.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DISTRIBUTES CHILDREN’S VACCINE TO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, PRIVATE PROVIDERS
Tallahassee - Today, Florida Department of Health (DOH) Secretary John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., announced that approximately 13,000 doses of children’s influenza vaccine have been distributed to Florida’s County Health Departments. Early next week, an additional 31,500 children’s influenza doses will be sent to private care providers across the state.
“Such infection can be serious for those whose immune systems make them vulnerable to illness, including our elderly and our youngest,” said Dr. Agwunobi. “I applaud the efforts made by healthy Floridians who are choosing to follow prevention measures to leave the available vaccines for those who need it most.”
Individuals can follow these simple steps to protect against flu. Frequently hand washing and avoiding touching the nose, eyes, and mouth help to reduce transmission and the probability of contracting flu or respiratory infections such as colds.
· Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
· Stay home when you are sick and keep sick children home.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
· Avoid close contact with people who are ill, if possible.
· Do not share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items.
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue away. If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
· After coughing or sneezing, always clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
High-risk individuals who should be vaccinated against influenza include:
· Persons 65 years and older
· Children aged 6 to 23 months
· Residents and employees of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house persons of any age who have long-term illnesses
· Persons 6 months of age and older who have chronic heart or lung conditions (including asthma), need regular medical care or must be in a hospital due to metabolic diseases (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease or weakened immune system (including problems caused by medicine or infection with HIV/AIDS)
· Children and teenagers 6 months to 18 years who are on long-term aspirin therapy and, therefore, could develop Reye syndrome after the flu
· Women who will be pregnant during the flu season
Additional individuals who should be vaccinated include:
· Doctors, nurses and other employees in hospitals and physicians' offices, including emergency response workers who have direct patient contact
· Caregivers of children younger than 6 months are also encouraged to receive flu shots because children younger than 24 months may be at higher risk for complications from influenza.
For more information about influenza and steps to protect individuals and families, visit the Department of Health website at www.doh.state.fl.us <http://www.doh.state.fl.us> or <http://www.cdc.gov> www.cdc.gov <http://www.cdc.gov>.
