Department of Health & Wellness Promotion Provide Flu Shots

Summary

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"There's been a significant addition this year to the annual flu vaccination recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)," said Dr. PhylUs Meadows, DHWP director. "Beginning with this 2008-09 influenza season, the CDC is urging that all children from 5 to 18 years old get an annual flu shot. That's in addition to previous recommendations that include children from 6 months to 4 years old."

"This simpler age-based recommendation - 6 months to 18 years old, which now covers all children - is expected to increase vaccinations among children who have already had a 'risk - or contact-based indication' for an annual flu vaccination," said Dr. [Meadows]. "Those kids amount to about half the children in school."

Detroiters may also receive flu vaccine at any DHWP site location. In order for the program to continue, DHWP is billing Medicaid and Medicare (Part B) for the administration of the vaccine. The department is also charging a $10 fee to those who do not have insurance.

The CDC also found that there is increased evidence that flu has a serious impact on school-aged children and their contacts - including missed school, increased antibiotic use, more medical care, and extra parental time off work. Populations that are most vulnerable to serious complications from exposure to influenza virus are: * Children from 6 months old to age 18. * People 50 and older, with or without chronic health conditions. * People from 2 to 64 with certain chronic diseases like asthma and diabetes. * Pregnant women. * Residents of long-term care or chronic care facilities. * Health care personnel who provide direct patient care. * Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 years old and adults older than 50, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children under 6 months old. * Household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe complications from influenza People with severe allergic reactions to eggs, chicken, or thimerosal, or a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome should not get this flu vaccine.

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Extract

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Department of Health & Wellness Promotion Provide Flu Shots

The Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion (DHWP) has announced its flu vaccination schedule for 2008.

"There's been a significant addition this year to the annual flu vaccination recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Preven...

See the full content of this document

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