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http://www.naplesnews.com/02/10/bonita/d837509a.htm

Flu shots available for high-risk population

Thursday, October 10, 2002

By SONJA BJELLAND, skbjelland@naplesnews.com

It's flu shot season again.

While the influenza virus will not fully descend on Florida for many months, clinics have started popping up and will open to the general public next month. So far, the high-risk population has been inoculated first.

Residents of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities have been the first to receive shots from Jackie Vaughn, a nursing program specialist with the Lee County Health Department. She's been immunizing Southwest Floridians for 12 years now.

AT A GLANCE

Upcoming flu shot locations for high-risk patients: n Oct. 15 — Edison Square Mall, 2178 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, call 337-4848 n Oct. 17 — 9 a.m. to noon, Naples Fire Department, 977 26th Ave. N., Naples n Oct. 18 — 9 a.m. to noon, St. Columbkille Church, 12171 Iona Road, Fort Myers n Lee County Health Department: 3920 Michigan Ave. Fort Myers The shots cost $15 but are covered by Medicare. For more locations, contact the American Lung Association at 275-7577.

In October it is most important for people older than 65 and those with health conditions to receive the shots. Next month the health department will open the clinics to the general public. As more people descend to the sunshine, more inoculations are necessary.

This year, parents also are encouraged to have babies and toddlers vaccinated.

"It seems to be a lot of people are calling for us to squeeze them in," she said. "It's never too late to get a flu shot."

Because flu season really starts in this area in March, Vaughn said people will be safe even if they take the shot in January. The inoculation needs 14 days to take effect. The $15 charge for the flu shot and $22 charge for the pneumonia shot is covered by Medicare for many people. Vaughn said the program handles the necessary paperwork.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nationwide 114,000 people are hospitalized for the flu each year and 20,000 people die. The bug bites about 20 percent of the U.S. population.

The Visiting Nurses Association helps the health department at the clinics. Immunization Coordinator Laura McDonnell said they may be adding more public sites throughout the season to handle the growth. The group hosts more than 250 sites from Sarasota to Marco Island each year at places ranging from golf-course communities to mobile home parks.

"It's important because certain people are at risk because of age," she said. "If they're 65 or older or have cardio (pulmonary) or respiratory disease, they're at risk for other complications."

Sufferers of such chronic diseases as diabetes, pulmonary diseases such as asthma, or heart diseases need to have the shots earlier, said Cynthia Upton, assistant nursing director for the health department. In addition, people with immune disorders from an organ transplant or who are on corticosteroids such as Prednisone or people with HIV/AIDS also qualify as high-risk.

Upton said they are also trying to reach people now because the three strains of influenza the vaccine guards against cause more severe problems. They're also trying to reach more of the homeless population and others who cannot afford the shot but need it.

"More people are moving to Southwest Florida and they all want to stay healthy," Upton said. "(More people are being vaccinated) simply because there's a lot more information out there and people are better informed."

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.