WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND CITIES HEALTH DISTRICT

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

 

 Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) Will Distribute

1500 Flu Vaccines to Health Care Workers Serving Vulnerable Patients

 

October 26, 2004 (Williamson County, TX ) --The shortage of flu vaccine this flu season makes for an evolving vaccine supply situation.  One of the two suppliers of flu vaccine for the U.S., Chiron, will not be distributing its supply of about half of the usual doses of vaccine for the U.S. market. 

 

The Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) initially received no flu vaccine.  Some physicians and other providers of flu vaccine in Williamson County received all or part of their orders and others, like WCCHD, did not receive any vaccine.  At this time, Williamson County’s supply of flu vaccine at all physicians and other healthcare providers is less than is needed to vaccinate the entire population of residents in the priority groups as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  This CDC priority list and other information on flu can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/whoshouldget.htm.  WCCHD strongly encourages all physicians and other healthcare providers to follow the CDC recommendations.

 

WCCHD was recently able to purchase a small amount of flu vaccine (1500 doses).  The District will work with Williamson County hospitals, emergency first responders, and other providers of critical care to vaccinate healthcare workers in direct care services to the most vulnerable patients in Williamson County.  Healthcare workers are at high risk for contracting the flu and transmitting it to medically fragile people being treated in healthcare settings.  Additionally, maintaining a healthcare workforce is important for addressing community health needs. 

 

WCCHD will continue to monitor the flu vaccine status in Williamson County in partnership with the Department of State Health Services and surrounding counties.  WCCHD will distribute any additional vaccine if it becomes available to the District. 

 

The WCCHD website will be updated periodically with any new information on flu vaccine in Williamson County.  See the WCCHD website at   http://www.publichealthwilliamson.org/.  In addition, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has a website with ongoing updates on the statewide flu situation at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/dshstoday/flu.shtm#la_gripe.

 

Remember these good health habits to prevent the flu:

·       Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

·       If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

·       Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

·       Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.

·       Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

 

- 30 -