Louisiana Health Care Review
THE MEDICARE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATION
2007-2008 Influenza Season

National Influenza Vaccination Week
November 26 - December 2, 2007

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the week after Thanksgiving, November 27 to December 2, as National Influenza Vaccination Week.  This event is designed to highlight the importance of continuing influenza (flu) vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine through the months of November, December and beyond.  Providers are encouraged to take advantage of this national emphasis to enhance flu vaccine delivery.

Providers can access free flu materials from CDC through the following link:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/

Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for: 

  • all persons, including school-aged children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others;
  • all children aged 6–59 months (i.e., 6 months–4 years);
  • all persons aged 50 years and older;
  • children and adolescents (aged 6 months–18 years) receiving long-term aspirin therapy who therefore might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
  • women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
  • adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
  • adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus;
  • adults and children who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration;
  • residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities;
  • health-care personnel;
  • healthy household contacts (including children) and caregivers of children aged <5 years and adults aged 50 years and older, with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children aged <6 months; and
  • healthy household contacts (including children) and caregivers of persons with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.

Page last updated October 23, 2007
Content Source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID)
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)

For information on seasonal Influenza vaccine supply for the U.S. 2007-08 influenza season,
click here:   http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaxsupply.htm

Can I still buy influenza vaccine for the 2007-08 season?

Much of the influenza vaccine was pre-booked early this year. However, given the increased production this year, some preparations of influenza vaccine should still be available. Providers should contact distributors and local vendors about remaining supply. Information about distributors who still have influenza vaccine available for sale can be found on the American Medical Association’s webpage.
Order Flu Awareness Materials for Your Patients from LHCR
 Note that the flu vaccine is recommended for your patients aged 65 years or older and for those considered to be high risk (UPSTF, 1996). Protect your patients from the Flu! To order patient education materials, CLICK HERE.
Provider Billing Information
For information about Medicare billing click here: www.lamedicare.com.

Vaccine Information Statements (VISs) are information sheets produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that explain to vaccine recipients, their parents, or their legal representatives both the benefits and risks of a vaccine. Federal law requires that VISs be handed out whenever (before each dose) certain vaccinations are given.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm#flu

 


For more Quality Improvement
resources, visit www.medqic.org

[Home]  [Privacy Policy]
This Web site is produced by Louisiana Health Care Review, Inc., the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Louisiana, under contract 500-99-LA02 with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy.

If you experience any problems with this site, please notify us by e-mail. Thank you.
Louisiana Health Care Review, Inc. © 2002-2007
8591 United Plaza Boulevard, Suite 270
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809
Telephone: 225-926-6353 / Fax: 225-923-0957