Flu vaccine should be plentiful, health officials say

Nasal vaccine allows alternative to shot

‘‘If you want to reduce the likelihood of getting ill with influenza, the best way is to get vaccine,” said Cindy Edwards, nurse administrator for Montgomery County’s immunization program.

‘‘And it’s available,” she added noting the county ordered about 6,500 doses — both the injected vaccine and the nasal mist.

The expansion of nasal vaccine to a younger age group means no needles. It also means more vaccine is available to public and private providers.

‘‘Being able to get the nasal vaccine instead of the needle is a big plus,” said Dr. Gaurov Gayal, a pediatrician and chief medical officer at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville.

‘‘For a lot of parents who were hesitant whether to give their children a shot, they can get this. ... Fear of a needle is a big issue.”

The Food and Drug Administration in September approved new guidelines allowing children as young as 2 years old to receive the nasal vaccine, which is sprayed like a mist into the nostril. Prior guidelines for the live nasal vaccine restricted delivery to ages 5 to 49. Children as young as 6 months old can get the injected form.

Extending that age range for nasal vaccine might bring in more young children, an age group considered at risk for getting sick, Gayal said.

‘‘We’re hopeful a lot of people will get vaccinated, not just at Shady Grove,” he said. ‘‘[Influenza] is not a trivial illness. Most of the people who died last season were elderly and young. It should be taken seriously. People should be aware of the symptoms.”

Those symptoms include fever, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, stomach symptoms like nausea, sore throat and dry cough. Between 5 percent and 20 percent of the population contract the contagious respiratory illness each year. About 200,000 people are hospitalized with complications and about 36,000 die. In less severe forms, it can keep people out of work for days.

Medical experts say several at-risk groups should receive vaccine: 6 months to 5 years old; age 50 and older; 6 months to 18 years old on long-term aspirin care; women who may become pregnant; and people with weakened immune systems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects a record number of doses — 110 million to 115 million — to be distributed throughout the United States for the 2007-2008 season, with an estimated 75 million projected for distribution before Oct. 31. Most people get vaccinated in October and November for a season that generally peaks in February.

Vaccinating the masses helps reduce the number of people who get sick and miss work or require hospitalization. And in the event of a serious public health crisis or pandemic, it would help officials rule out who is suffering from influenza and who is sick because of something else, such as avian flu.

The CDC’s recommendations for 2007-2008 reemphasize the past year’s recommendations in urging children ages 2 to 8 to get two doses of vaccine several weeks apart and anyone who wants ‘‘to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or transmitting influenza to others should be vaccinated.”

Last year, the CDC, expecting an abundant supply, eased restrictions on who should receive vaccine, following two years of highly publicized shortages.

This year, Judy Lichty of Adventist HealthCare, which runs Shady Grove and Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, ordered about 11,000 shots for community and church-based clinics. It doesn’t set a record, she said, but it comes close.

Last year, Adventist HealthCare administered about 9,000 shots at clinics and vaccinated about 70 percent of hospital staff at Washington Adventist and Shady Grove, Lichty said.

‘‘[That] is huge,” she said, noting that nationally compliance is about 30 percent. ‘‘[Health care workers] are far more likely to be exposed to things than other people.”

vaccine resources

Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services will hold two flu shot clinics in November. Cost is $20 for adults; there is no charge for children. Medicare is accepted.

*Nov. 8 — 9:30 a.m.-noon at East County Recreation Center, 3300 Briggs Chaney Road, Silver Spring.

*Nov. 15 — 9:30 a.m.-noon at Germantown Community Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown.

For more information, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov⁄hhstmpl.asp?url=⁄content⁄hhs⁄index.asp or call the county’s immunization information line at240-777-1050.

flu shot clinics

Area hospitals and health care organizations also offer flu shot clinics:

Adventist Health Care (Washington Adventist Hospital, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital): www.adventisthealthcare.com

Holy Cross Hospital: www.holycrosshealth.org

Montgomery General Hospital: www.montgomerygeneral.com

Suburban Hospital: www.suburbanhospital.org.

Maxim Health Systems, which distributes vaccine at corporate and retail locations, offers locations at www.findaflushot.com.