NH DHHS Recognizes National Influenza Vaccination Week

It’s Not Too Late to Get Your Annual Flu Vaccine


Concord, NH – It’s not too late to get your flu vaccination and vaccine

manufacturers are projecting that there will be plenty of flu vaccine to go

around. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services,

Immunization Program is proud to join forces with the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) and New Hampshire’s many health care providers

and community partners in recognizing National Influenza Vaccination Week

(NIVW), December 4-10, 2011 as an opportunity to highlight the importance

of getting an annual flu vaccination.


NIVW was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza

vaccination as well as to foster greater use of flu vaccine after the

holiday season into January and beyond. The flu season typically runs from

October to May and has not really begun in New Hampshire yet so there is

still plenty of time to get a flu vaccine for this year.


“We have to remember that influenza kills roughly 25,000 people in this

country every year and hospitalizes over 200,000 annually,” said Dr. José

Montero, Director of Public Health at DHHS. “This is not just a cold.

Though many people only become mildly ill, anyone, no matter how healthy or

what age, can contract the flu and be out of commission for days.”


Immunity from the influenza vaccine does not last from season to season

plus the flu strains that are circulating, and thus the composition of the

vaccine, change ever year so it is important to be vaccinated again even if

you were last year. CDC recommends that everyone age 6 months or older

receive an annual flu vaccine, particularly those at greater risk of

serious flu-related complications like pneumonia that can lead to

hospitalization and even death.

Children younger than 5 years olds, but especially children younger

than 2 years old

Pregnant women

People with certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes (types 1

and 2), or heart and lung disease

People 65 years and older

People who care for anyone in one or more of the high-risk groups

above.


Other people for whom vaccination is especially important are:

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 younger than 5 years

of age with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of

children younger than 6 months of age (children younger than 6

months are at highest risk of flu-related complications but are

too young to get vaccinated)


Symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, sore throat, running or stuffy

nose, muscle aches (a hallmark of flu which is not present with a cold),

fatigue and miserable days spent in bed instead of at work or school. While

flu vaccine is available at doctor’s offices and health departments, it is

also available at many pharmacies, workplaces, and other retail and clinic

locations throughout the State.


For more information about flu vaccination, visit CDC’s website at

http://www.cdc.gov/flu, the DHHS website at

http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/immunization/index.htm or call the New

Hampshire Immunization Program at (603) 271-4482.

NH DHHS - Plenty of Seasonal Flu Vaccine Available to Anyone Over Six Months of Age

Concord, NH – The annual influenza (flu) season is about to start and the

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) encourages all

residents to consider getting immunized against the flu, especially those

who are at increased risk of complications from the flu. An annual flu

vaccine is the first and best way to protect against influenza.


“DHHS has begun shipping vaccine to providers for children who are served

under our immunization program,” said Dr. José Montero. “The flu virus is

always changing so it is important to be protected by yearly vaccination

against this potentially deadly illness. Flu vaccine remains free for all

children up through age 18 in New Hampshire.”


Influenza is a serious disease of the lungs, nose and throat. The illness

is spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Typical flu

symptoms include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore

throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. An average of 22,000 people

die each year in the United States due to influenza.


The flu season can last from October through May, so the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and DHHS recommend that people be

vaccinated whenever they can beginning today and any time through the end

of the season. The vaccine is available in the traditional shot form for

people six months of age and older. Flu vaccine in a nasal mist form is

available for healthy people aged 2-49 years who are not pregnant.


“It is important to understand that the vaccine itself does not give you

the flu and that it is very safe,” continued Dr. Montero. “It is especially

important that certain targeted groups be vaccinated for their own safety;

however other groups, such as health care providers, should receive the

vaccine to protect others. If you won’t do it for yourself, get vaccinated

for someone you care for or about.”


The following groups are at increased risk and should definitely receive a

flu vaccine every year:

Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday

Pregnant women

People 50 years of age or older

People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, including

asthma or heart disease

People who live with or care for those at high risk of flu

complications, including:

Health care workers

Household contacts of persons at high risk of complications from

the flu

Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children younger

than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be

vaccinated)


For more information on influenza and the vaccine, contact the NH

Immunization Program at 800-852-3345 ext. 4482 or 603-271-4482 or the

Communicable Disease Surveillance Section at 800-852-3345 ext. 0279 or

603-271-0279. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

website at www.cdc.gov  for more information or the DHHS website at

www.dhhs.nh.gov . To get the flu vaccine, contact your healthcare provider

or visit a local pharmacy.

NH DHHS -CDC Seeks Public Comment on Childhood Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will host a public discussion on Wednesday, June 15th about the childhood immunization schedule. The CDC is seeking comments on whether and how to expand the types of information used when considering whether to add a new vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule. The federal Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) will use the information to help determine whether and how additional views from the public and health care providers could be incorporated into the vaccine recommendation process. This discussion in Concord is the first of four meetings taking place around the country.

EVENT: Public Discussion on Childhood Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease
WHEN: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
WHERE: 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH

NH DHHS - CDC is Seeking Public Comment on Childhood Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is seeking input surrounding the childhood immunization schedule. Specifically the CDC is seeking comments on whether and how to expand the types of information used when considering whether to add a new vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule. DHHS and the CDC are hosting a meeting in Concord on June 15th to hear from professionals and the general public about this topic.

The public discussion in Concord is one of four meetings happening around the country. The federal Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) will use the information gathered to help determine whether and how additional views from the public and health care providers could be incorporated into the vaccine recommendation process. The basis for the discussion will be new vaccines that have been developed to prevent meningococcal disease in infants and young children.

The facilitated meeting in Concord is intended to solicit views and perspectives on what factors the ACIP and CDC should take into account when developing recommendations for how to best use vaccines that protect children from relatively rare but often very serious diseases. Newly developed meningococcal vaccines, for instance, have the potential to protect infants and very young children from relatively rare, but often very serious, types of meningitis. Attendance at the meeting is limited, and participation is free. Pre-registration is required to participate, and those wishing to attend must attend the meeting for the entire day.

The meeting is at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services, 29 Hazen Drive in Concord on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

To register online: http://keystone.org/registration/concord  

By phone:
1-866-276-7083

By fax:
970-262-0152

This public session is a collaborative effort by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, and The Keystone Center.

NH DHHS - It Is Not Too Late to Get Your Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

Concord, NH – This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week and the New Hampshire Immunization Program in the Division of Public Health Services is encouraging everyone to get his or hea flu vaccine. There is still supply available and since the flu season typically runs from December to April it is not too late.

“This national event provides an important opportunity for public health and medical officials to remind people how important it is to be immunized against the flu,” said Dr. José Montero, Director of Public Health Services at DHHS. “Getting vaccinated is the single best way for people to protect not only themselves against flu, but their loved ones as well. It is also the best way to prevent flu-related complications that can lead to hospitalization or death.”

This season, for the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are recommending that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu vaccine. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized in the United States due to complications from influenza and thousands die each year.

While CDC recommends that everyone be immunized against influenza, certain groups are at higher risk of severe illness and complications and should be vaccinated every year, including:
Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
Pregnant women
People 50 years of age or older
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, including asthma or heart disease, or those who are immune compromised
People who live with or care for those at high risk of flu complications, including:
Health care workers
Household contacts of persons at high risk of complications from the flu
Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children younger than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Getting a flu vaccine is easy and all vaccines for children in New Hampshire are free of charge. Call your health care provider or local health department today. For more information about influenza and influenza vaccine visit the New Hampshire Immunization Program website at http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/immunization/index.htm or the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/flu.