Governor Beshear, First Lady receive flu shots from
Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo
Governor and Mrs. Beshear encourage Kentuckians to get influenza vaccinations
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 10, 2009) – With influenza season just around the corner and seasonal flu vaccine already available in many locations this season, Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear today received their seasonal flu vaccinations from Dr. Daniel Mongiardo, Kentucky’s lieutenant governor.
Governor and Mrs. Beshear urge all Kentuckians to get a seasonal flu shot or nasal vaccine spray and encourage parents to make sure children older than 6 months also receive protection against the seasonal flu.
“The best way to protect yourself and your family against the flu is to receive the flu shot or nasal vaccine spray,” said Gov. Beshear. “Ensuring that all eligible children and adults are vaccinated helps protect the health of our communities at large, by reducing the flu’s spread and severity.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends seasonal flu vaccine for:
• Annual vaccination of children age 6 months to 19 years;
• Pregnant women;
• People 50 years old or older;
• People of any age with chronic health problems;
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
• Health care workers;
• Caregivers of or people who live with a person at high risk for complications from the flu and out-of-home caregivers of or people who live with children less than 6 months old;
• Healthy, non-pregnant people aged 2-49 years can receive either the flu shot or the nasal vaccine spray.
Kentucky expects local health departments and private health care providers to have plenty of seasonal vaccine on hand for this year’s season, and clinics are already being scheduled at many locations around the state. For information on seasonal vaccine availability, Kentuckians should contact their health provider or local health department.
“It’s important that children and others at higher risk for complications from the flu receive the flu vaccine each year to ensure maximum protection,” said William Hacker, M.D., commissioner of the Department for Public Health. "People should go ahead and get the seasonal flu vaccine now."
The flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May, but usually peaks between January and March. September, October and November are good months to be vaccinated for flu because it takes about two weeks for immunity to develop and offer protection against flu. However, vaccination can be given any time during the flu season. Infection with the flu virus can cause fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and body aches.
A 2009 H1N1 flu vaccination campaign is expected to begin in late October, and will target slightly different groups than are recommended for seasonal flu vaccine. Health officials are recommending that individuals under 65 who are at higher risk for complications of the flu, such as pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses, be among the target groups to receive H1N1 vaccine first.
The symptoms of both seasonal and H1N1 influenza include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, cough, body aches, and may include vomiting or diarrhea. Individuals at higher risk for complications—such as those with chronic health conditions or who are pregnant—should contact a health care provider early, in case treatment with antiviral medication is necessary.
Because the flu can spread easily among people in close contact, health officials say it is especially important for those in school, day care or similar settings to practice good hygiene habits during the coming months. Common sense precautions to prevent illness include: avoiding close contact with those who are ill; staying home when sick; covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth; and frequent hand washing.
For more information on influenza disease or the availability of flu immunizations, please contact your local health department or visit healthalerts.ky.gov.
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