November 24, 2006
Did you know...?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the designation of the week after Thanksgiving as National Influenza Vaccination Week.
National Influenza Vaccination Week will run from November 27 to December 3. The event is designed to raise awareness of the importance of continuing influenza (flu) vaccination through the months of November, December and beyond. The CDC is recommending that people take this opportunity to be vaccinated if they haven’t already.
Traditionally national interest in getting a flu vaccination tapers off after Thanksgiving. However, since flu activity generally does not peak until February or later, November, December and January are good times to get vaccinated. "Getting vaccinated is the single best way for people to protect not only themselves against flu, but their loved ones as well," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC Director.
As National Influenza Vaccination Week approaches, 77 million flu vaccine doses have already been distributed and vaccine supply is expected to reach an all-time high. Flu vaccine manufacturers have reported they expect approximately 115 million doses of flu vaccine to be distributed this year. This exceeds last year by 29-34 million and previous years by 27 - 32 million doses. Doses are still shipping and will continue to be shipped through November and into early December.
Vaccinations are recommended for anyone who wants to decrease the risk of influenza. While anyone can get influenza, many groups are at higher risk for complications including: people aged 50 years or more, those with chronic illnesses (heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, diabetes), and pregnant women. Anyone in the high risk group is encouraged to get vaccinated. In addition, those in close contact with these high risk persons such as health care personnel, and caregivers of high risk persons, are also at increased risk and should get vaccinated.
"Influenza vaccination can provide protection to a wide number of people, and is an important factor in minimizing the risk and severity of flu transmission," said Dr. John Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health. "Most people recover completely from a bout with the flu, but it does cause misery for a week or more and generally makes people unable to work, attend school, care for children, and participate in activities they enjoy. By vaccinating a greater number of people, it will help many more to be free of discomforting symptoms and not miss out on their everyday activities."
Each year in the United States, between 5 and 20 percent of the population is infected with influenza, about 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized because of influenza complications. Since influenza is unpredictable, and different types and strains of influenza circulate throughout the flu season, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that influenza vaccine be offered throughout the influenza season-- even after influenza has appeared or begun appearing in a community.
National Influenza Vaccination Week is a collaborative effort of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the CDC, and the National Influenza Vaccine Summit (for more information about the Summit, please go to http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13732.html).
For more information about influenza and influenza vaccine visit the CDC website at: www.cdc.gov/flu.
OHS-COMPCARE currently has vaccine. To schedule your company for their flu shots contact Client Services at 816-561-2105 or customerservice@ohscompcare.com.
To learn more about how OHS-COMPCARE contact our Client Services Team at (816) 561-2105 or by e-mail at customerservice@ohscompcare.com. You can also visit us at www.ohscompcare.com.
*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*
OHS-COMPCARE has eight (8) area clinical facilities:
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Blue Springs Clinical Facility |
Independence Clinical Facility |
Johnson County Clinical Facility |
St. Joseph Clinical Facility |
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801 NW St. Mary’s Drive |
17020 East 40 Highway |
10415 Lackman Road |
904 Edmond Street |
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Blue Springs, MO 64104 |
Independence, MO 64055 |
Lenexa, KS 66219 |
St. Joseph, MO 64501 |
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816-224-9121 |
816-478-9299 |
913-495-9905 |
816-233-7702 |
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*New Extended Hours* |
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KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility |
KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility |
Wyandotte County Clinical Facility |
Grandview Clinical Facility ***now open*** |
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1650 Broadway |
6501 East Commerce, Suite 110 |
1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200 |
13830 S Us Highway 71 |
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Kansas City, MO 64108 |
Kansas City, MO 64120 |
Kansas City, KS 66102 |
Grandview, MO 64030 |
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816-842-2020 |
816-483-5550 |
913-596-2774 |
816-761-4664 |