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Flu vaccine shortage in Willcox, too
CAROL BROEDER/Arizona Range News
Along with the rest of the United States, Willcox is facing a shortage of flu vaccine this season.
Fifty-percent of the nation's flu vaccine will not be available as planned, said Rita Weatherholt, public information officer for the Cochise County Health Department.
"We're not viewing this as an emergency at this point," Weatherholt said.
The main focus will be to provide flu shots to the most vulnerable populations.
Healthy people are being urged to skip the shots this year so that those who could die from the flu virus can be immunized.
Vaccine will be administered based on priorities set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Populations considered to be most at-risk are:
Adults aged 65 years and older,
Children six to 23 months old,
Persons aged two to 64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions,
Women who will be pregnant during flu season,
Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities,
Children six months to 18 years of age on chronic aspirin therapy,
Health-care workers who give direct patient care, and
Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children less than six months old.
Health authorities in Great Britain suspended the manufacturing license of Chiron Corporation for three months, effective last Tuesday.
Chiron produces 48 million doses of flu vaccine, half of the total 100 million doses used in the United States. It is one of only two flu-shot makers for this country. The other is Aventis Pasteur.
Dr. Regina Harmon, with Harmon Clinic in Willcox, said that manufacturer is only making 54 million doses.
"That's half of what we need," she said.
The county health department ordered its supply from Aventis, not Chiron. So far, it has received one-quarter to one-third of its flu vaccine shipment.
The county has dispersed 200 doses each to its five locations - Willcox, Benson, Sierra Vista, Bisbee and Douglas, Weatherholt said.
Cochise County's flu vaccination clinics, scheduled to begin around Oct. 18, are pending.
Chris Cronberg, chief executive officer of Northern Cochise Community Hospital, said the hospital has received 1,400 does of the vaccine to be used at the nursing home and for distribution to all Willcox clinics, as well as Sunsites Medical Clinic.
Ellen Clark, community relations director at NCCH, said the hospital has created a task force to handle the crisis.
Physicians will screen patients based on health risks and administer the vaccine accordingly, she said.
Clark said that in the past every NCCH employee was encouraged to get the vaccine.
While health-care workers are considered a high-risk group for contracting and spreading the flu virus, "we will immunize only our front-line healthcare workers who are involved in direct patient care, allowing more vaccines to be available to our patients."
She added that all nursing home residents, long-term care patients, and any in-patients who require immunization due to pneumonia and related illness would receive the vaccine.
"We believe there will be vaccine available for the most vulnerable," Clark said, "If you believe you have a special vulnerability not listed, contact your primary care physician."
Cronberg said NCCH will ask that visits to patients be limited to reduce the chance of exposure to patients and staff, and that those who are sick do not visit patients.
He added that the hospital is working with the State Fire Marshall to install hand-sanitizing stations in the lobbies, as they did last year.
Larry Hamel, pharmacist with the Safeway in Willcox, said the Mollen Clinic, scheduled for Oct. 24, has been canceled.
The Phoenix-based clinic, owned by Dr. Art Mollen, normally holds clinics at drugstores and supermarkets throughout Arizona during fall and winter.
Adults who are generally healthy are asked to take extra care to stay that way until more vaccine is available.
Among the simple, effective ways to minimize the chance of contracting the flu are:
Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze,
Wash your hands regularly,
Stay at home if you're ill, and
Most importantly, do not rush to get a vaccine if you are not among the vulnerable populations.
To these suggestions Harmon adds, "Stay away from people who are obviously sick, and don't go to the grocery store during very busy times."
Harmon said it is important to know the difference between a cold and the flu.
Information obtained from the American Lung Association says that with a cold, the onset of symptoms is gradual. Fever and headache are rare, muscle aches and pains are slight, fatigue is mild, and discomfort and pain are mild to moderate. Cough, stuffy/runny nose, and a sore throat are common.
Flu has a rapid onset of symptoms. High fever (over 101 degrees Fahrenheit) is characteristic, usually lasting three to four days. Headache is prominent. Muscle aches and pains are usual and often severe, and fatigue is early, prominent and can last up to two to three weeks. There is sometimes stuffy/runny nose and a sore, scratchy throat. Chest discomfort and pain is common, and generally there is a dry cough.
There are prescription medications available, such as Symmetrel and Tamiflu, that can kill the virus and shorten the duration of the illness, but it must be taken within 48 hours of the onset of flu, Harmon said.
Weatherholt says county, state, and federal health officials are working to determine a long-term course of action.
While it is unknown when new supplies of flu vaccine will be available, officials are confident that by prioritizing vaccine for the most vulnerable, residents as a whole can stay healthy through this season.
For more information, contact your physician or the Cochise County Health Department at (520) 432-9400.
Along with the rest of the United States, Willcox is facing a shortage of flu vaccine this season.
Fifty-percent of the nation's flu vaccine will not be available as planned, said Rita Weatherholt, public information officer for the Cochise County Health Department.
"We're not viewing this as an emergency at this point," Weatherholt said.
The main focus will be to provide flu shots to the most vulnerable populations.
Healthy people are being urged to skip the shots this year so that those who could die from the flu virus can be immunized.
Vaccine will be administered based on priorities set by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Populations considered to be most at-risk are:
Health authorities in Great Britain suspended the manufacturing license of Chiron Corporation for three months, effective last Tuesday.
Chiron produces 48 million doses of flu vaccine, half of the total 100 million doses used in the United States. It is one of only two flu-shot makers for this country. The other is Aventis Pasteur.
Dr. Regina Harmon, with Harmon Clinic in Willcox, said that manufacturer is only making 54 million doses.
"That's half of what we need," she said.
The county health department ordered its supply from Aventis, not Chiron. So far, it has received one-quarter to one-third of its flu vaccine shipment.
The county has dispersed 200 doses each to its five locations - Willcox, Benson, Sierra Vista, Bisbee and Douglas, Weatherholt said.
Cochise County's flu vaccination clinics, scheduled to begin around Oct. 18, are pending.
Chris Cronberg, chief executive officer of Northern Cochise Community Hospital, said the hospital has received 1,400 does of the vaccine to be used at the nursing home and for distribution to all Willcox clinics, as well as Sunsites Medical Clinic.
Ellen Clark, community relations director at NCCH, said the hospital has created a task force to handle the crisis.
Physicians will screen patients based on health risks and administer the vaccine accordingly, she said.
Clark said that in the past every NCCH employee was encouraged to get the vaccine.
While health-care workers are considered a high-risk group for contracting and spreading the flu virus, "we will immunize only our front-line healthcare workers who are involved in direct patient care, allowing more vaccines to be available to our patients."
She added that all nursing home residents, long-term care patients, and any in-patients who require immunization due to pneumonia and related illness would receive the vaccine.
"We believe there will be vaccine available for the most vulnerable," Clark said, "If you believe you have a special vulnerability not listed, contact your primary care physician."
Cronberg said NCCH will ask that visits to patients be limited to reduce the chance of exposure to patients and staff, and that those who are sick do not visit patients.
He added that the hospital is working with the State Fire Marshall to install hand-sanitizing stations in the lobbies, as they did last year.
Larry Hamel, pharmacist with the Safeway in Willcox, said the Mollen Clinic, scheduled for Oct. 24, has been canceled.
The Phoenix-based clinic, owned by Dr. Art Mollen, normally holds clinics at drugstores and supermarkets throughout Arizona during fall and winter.
Adults who are generally healthy are asked to take extra care to stay that way until more vaccine is available.
Among the simple, effective ways to minimize the chance of contracting the flu are:
To these suggestions Harmon adds, "Stay away from people who are obviously sick, and don't go to the grocery store during very busy times."
Harmon said it is important to know the difference between a cold and the flu.
Information obtained from the American Lung Association says that with a cold, the onset of symptoms is gradual. Fever and headache are rare, muscle aches and pains are slight, fatigue is mild, and discomfort and pain are mild to moderate. Cough, stuffy/runny nose, and a sore throat are common.
Flu has a rapid onset of symptoms. High fever (over 101 degrees Fahrenheit) is characteristic, usually lasting three to four days. Headache is prominent. Muscle aches and pains are usual and often severe, and fatigue is early, prominent and can last up to two to three weeks. There is sometimes stuffy/runny nose and a sore, scratchy throat. Chest discomfort and pain is common, and generally there is a dry cough.
There are prescription medications available, such as Symmetrel and Tamiflu, that can kill the virus and shorten the duration of the illness, but it must be taken within 48 hours of the onset of flu, Harmon said.
Weatherholt says county, state, and federal health officials are working to determine a long-term course of action.
While it is unknown when new supplies of flu vaccine will be available, officials are confident that by prioritizing vaccine for the most vulnerable, residents as a whole can stay healthy through this season.
For more information, contact your physician or the Cochise County Health Department at (520) 432-9400.
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