DOD official approves expanded use of flu vaccine

[rossana <rossana at comodinoposta.org>]

Qualcun* sa spiegarmi perchè e a cosa serve questo vaccino?

by Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

1/18/2005 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- As part of national efforts to protect 
more people against the flu, the Defense Department's top health official 
authorized the use of military flu vaccine previously held in reserve Jan. 14.

Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr. signed a memorandum directing the expanded use 
of stored flu shot serum for servicemembers and other eligible recipients 
such as family members and military retirees. This policy change allows the 
services to use flu shots for nonhigh risk persons, including active-duty, 
while continuing their aggressive efforts to get high-risk beneficiaries 
vaccinated.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. 
About 36,000 Americans die from the flu each year.

DOD now has about 500,000 doses of the vaccine in storage, officials said.

A major vaccine provider to the United States had announced in October that 
its vaccine was defective. DOD officials then directed that servicemembers 
being deployed overseas and other eligible recipients at potential high 
risk to the flu, including seniors and the very young, receive priority to 
get flu vaccinations.

Vaccination against the flu remains mandatory "for servicemembers whose 
command has vaccine available to them," officials said.

Yet, a relatively benign flu season thus far and sparse turnouts for 
vaccination by those at high risk to the flu seem to have mitigated an 
expected vaccine shortage.

Many in high-risk groups seem to have chosen not to obtain a flu vaccine 
this year. "They saw news accounts of long lines and felt it wasn't worth 
the hassle," a DOD official said. Consequently, DOD "still has a lot of flu 
vaccine."

DOD will dispense this year's stored flu vaccine rather than letting it go 
to waste. Flu vaccines are developed to target specific virus strains 
expected only for that particular season. This year's flu season is 
expected to peak sometime in February, officials said.

Vaccination against the flu "is the best way to protect yourself and your 
family from influenza," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention director.

Dr. Gerberding said that "late-season vaccination is effective" against the 
flu. She urged unvaccinated people at risk to try once again to obtain a shot.




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