Influenza Vaccination Plan for November and December
- Regdate2011-10-05 09:09
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Influenza Vaccination Plan for November and December
Public health centers to begin vaccination from the first week of October
□ The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has recommended prioritized groups – the elderly aged 65 and over; people with chronic diseases such as heart and lung diseases, and diabetes, and their family; children ages between six and 59 months; and pregnant women – to get vaccinated in preparation for the upcoming flu season in November and December.
○ Influenza is an acute respiratory infection that usually spread first between November and December in Korea and then has the second season between February and April the following year. The prioritized groups are recommended to receive vaccination between October and December.
□ According to the Weekly Influenza Surveillance Scheme, the number of reported ILI cases was 3.2 in the week 38 (September 11 to 17, 2011), close to the Caution grade threshold of 3.8 per 1,000 outpatients. The laboratory surveillance revealed that nine strains of A/H3N2 were found in Busan, Daejeon and Seoul.
○ As you can easily get infected with flu through cough or nose runnings, you should conduct personal hygiene efforts for prevention including washing hands and cover your mouth with tissues and collar when you cough.
- In particular, the elderly and chronic disease patients are advised to get vaccinated before the flu season begins because they have high risk of developing complications such as bacterial pneumonia and congestive cardiac failure, and worsening the diseases they are already suffering like cardiac failure and diabetes.
□ Since approximately 21 million doses of influenza vaccines will be supplied this year, up 25% from last year when 16.85 million doses were offered, no vaccine shortages are expected.
○ Private medical institutions have begun offering vaccination starting September. Public health centers will start vaccination in the first week of October, when vaccine supply is completed, first for population in prioritized groups, who numbers about 3.94 million.
- Public health centers will provide vaccination according to the circumstances of the local government, with a focus on the elderly aged 65 and above, people living in social welfare facilities and medical aid beneficiaries. People who fall in the categories are advised to visit the public health center in their neighborhood after checking the vaccination date for them in advance.
○ People with advanced aged especially should not stand in line for long hours in the outside on a cold day. They are advised to go to the public health center during daytime, wear warm clothes and drink water sufficiently to prevent any incident.
- You should also let the doctor know your health condition of the day and any chronic disease you have before get vaccinated, because it is important to receive vaccination when you are healthy.
- You should remain in the center for about 30 minutes to see if you have any acute abnormal symptoms like shock and anaphylaxis.