Dec. 21, 2009 - Memphis & Shelby County Health Department Receives Additional Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Limited Supply Available

 

MEMPHIS, TENN. – The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department has received a limited supply of additional seasonal flu vaccine and continues to emphasize the importance of citizens receiving their flu shots.
 
“Now that we have additional seasonal flu vaccine, we want people to take advantage of getting this along with the H1N1 vaccine in order to receive full protection against both strains of the flu,” said Helen Morrow, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at the Health Department.
 
Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for everyone, including school-aged children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others.
 
The vaccine is especially recommended for the following persons who are at increased risk for severe complications associated with the flu:
  
  • Pregnant women
  • People 50 years of age and older
  • People of any age with chronic medical conditions, including asthma and other lung diseases, heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.
  • People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
  • People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
    • Health care workers
    • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
    • Household contacts and caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
The flu vaccine is not recommended for some groups of people, including:
 
  • People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
  • People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
  • Children less than six months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group)
 
The vaccine is available to the public in all the Health Department’s Public Health Clinics.  The vaccine is free for those covered by Medicare or TennCare and $25 for all others. No appointment is necessary.
 
The Health Department began offering seasonal flu vaccine in late August. However, due to a seasonal flu vaccine shortage due in part to high demand and slower production at certain manufacturers, the supply at the Health Department was depleted.