About 5 to 20 percent of individuals in the United States get the flu each year, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To help patients stay healthy this flu season, PAMF has scheduled its annual flu shot clinics to start in late October. The early clinics are reserved for patients who are at highest risk of having serious complications if they get the flu, as well as persons with whom they have contact. Please see the flu shot clinic schedule for dates of clinics at each PAMF location.

The list of patients who should attend an early flu clinic include:

1. Highest-risk patients:
   
   • Persons 65 years or older
     
   • Residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities
     
   • Patients with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure
     
   • Patients with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney problems, cancer, chemotherapy, long-term steroid treatment, sickle-cell disease or HIV infection
     
   • Women who are pregnant during the flu season
     
   • Children receiving chronic aspirin therapy
     
   • Individuals with neuromuscular conditions (such as individuals with multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's)
     
   • Healthy children 6 to 59 months of age, as well as children of any age with high- risk medical conditions
2. Household contacts of a) high-risk patients listed above; or b) infants under 6 months of age


3. Health care workers


4. Children 6 months to 8 years of age who this season (2008-2009) are receiving the flu vaccine for the first time, and children 8 years of age or younger who received their first flu vaccination last season (2007-2008) and had only one vaccination

For a complete list of patients who fall into a high-risk category and more information on the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

2008-2009 Flu Season Outlook

This year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has included three new flu "strains" (types of flu) in its flu vaccine production, hoping to provide individuals with greater protection against the flu. The FDA is taking this action because last season's vaccine success rate of 44 percent left room for improvement.

As in previous years, PAMF’s flu shot clinics will give the traditional "killed" vaccine by injection. Contrary to popular myth, the flu shot cannot give patients the flu because it is made with a dead virus, said Charles Weiss, M.D., MPH, of PAMF's Flu Shot Clinic Committee. With traditional flu shot injections, the most common side effect is soreness at the injection site.

In accordance with state law, PAMF will also provide thimerosal-free vaccines for children 6 to 35 months of age and pregnant women; all other patients who attend the flu shot clinics will be offered the traditional flu vaccine. Children 36 months of age and older may receive the standard flu shot. A thimerosal-free flu vaccine given by nose (intranasal vaccine) is also available for healthy individuals ages 2 to 49 years of age at an office visit with their primary care doctor.

Note: Parents should remember that all children 6 months to 8 years of age who this season (2008-2009) are receiving the flu vaccine for the first time will need two flu immunizations approximately one month apart to be considered fully immunized against the flu. Children 8 years of age or younger who received their first flu vaccination last season (2007-2008) and had only one vaccination will also need two vaccinations this season.

Flu shots are available to registered PAMF patients only. The charge for the flu vaccine will be billed to patients' insurance plans, while Medicare patients will be charged at current Medicare rates.

Pandemic Flu Update

PAMF is continuing its efforts to be fully prepared in the event of an influenza pandemic, such as an outbreak of the bird flu in humans. Members of PAMF's Pandemic Flu Committee continue to participate in mock exercises to test preparedness for a pandemic caused by bird flu or another influenza virus. Dr. Weiss said that PAMF is well prepared to participate in a pandemic response because of its experience with mass vaccination clinics and the 2003 SARS outbreak. In addition, PAMF is stockpiling necessary equipment and supplies needed for patient care in the event of a pandemic outbreak.

Although an outbreak of bird flu among humans is always a threat, such an event appears less likely than previously thought, said Dr. Weiss. "Bird flu has spread among bird populations, but it is not easily transmitted from birds to humans – or from one person to another," he said. In fact, only a small number of humans have been affected by bird flu, and of those individuals, most have been exposed to sick birds in rural areas of Asia, the Middle East and Africa and have gotten bird flu from the birds – not from other people.

"At this time, the chance of a person getting bird flu is almost zero," Dr. Weiss emphasized. "Although many people worry about bird flu, we are at greater risk of illness from common viruses such as flu and colds, which we can help prevent. That's why it is so important to get a flu shot and practice healthy habits this flu season."

For more information about the flu, including tips on how to stay healthy this flu season, visit www.pamf.org/flu.