CONTACT:
BATON ROUGE - State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry today emphasized the importance of receiving both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations as Louisiana's traditional flu season begins. The Department of Health and Hospital's efforts to encourage H1N1 vaccination during Influenza Immunization Week two weeks ago helped lead to more than 50,000 residents receiving their vaccination that week alone. The health care community nationwide continues to emphasize the H1N1 vaccine is safe and effective, and currently almost 350,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Louisiana since October.
"While we have seen a decrease in transmission over the past few weeks, it is very important that we continue to vaccinate as we enter our traditional flu season," Dr. Guidry said. "The flu is very unpredictable, and the best preventive method we have to stop its spread is vaccination."
Residents interested in receiving the vaccines should call their provider to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine, and can view public providers of the vaccine on the H1N1 flu shot locator at www.FightTheFluLA.com.
This Week's H1N1 Vaccination Campaign Highlights
- 1,035,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine have been shipped to Louisiana as of Monday, January 25, 2010.
- 1,381 providers in Louisiana have recorded 346,951 doses of H1N1 vaccine administered in state, as of Monday, January 25, 2010.
- The CDC reports that as of Tuesday, January 26, 2010, nearly 147 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have been allocated nationwide.
H1N1 Vaccination Campaign Summary
- The H1N1 vaccination campaign is open to the public.
- People at the highest risk of acquiring the illness and of being hospitalized with the illness continue to be children under four years old and people five to 24 years old. Asthma, chronic pulmonary disease, pregnancy and obesity are leading risk factors for complications from the H1N1 flu.
- The vaccine is now available to anyone, however, target groups for the H1N1 vaccine include children aged six months through 24 years, pregnant women, front line health care workers, parents and other caregivers of children less than 6 months of age, parents and caregivers of people with physical and developmental disabilities, and non-elderly (under 65) adults with pre-existing medical conditions. These groups are considered target groups because they are at higher risk for complications from the virus or transmitting the virus to others.
- A H1N1 flu shot locator is available for public use on www.FightTheFluLA.com.
- DHH has launched a Twitter feed (FightTheFluLA) and a Facebook page to help ensure easy access to up-to-date information regarding the H1N1 virus and vaccine.
- Residents can call 2-1-1 for additional information regarding the H1N1 flu, in addition to visiting www.FightTheFluLA.com.
Overall Influenza Activity
- DHH confirmed two H1N1-related deaths in the past two weeks, an adult female from Region VI (the eight-parish region including Alexandria) and an adult female from Region VIII (the 12-parish region including Monroe). Louisiana's total of H1N1-related deaths is 43.
- There are now 1,973 total lab-confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu in the state of Louisiana.
- Estimates derived by DHH in conjunction with CDC data indicate approximately 237,000 Louisianians currently have or have had the H1N1 flu.
- Louisiana has seen a noticeable decrease in influenza transmission over the past several weeks. However, residents should still take precautions and stay aware of the situation surrounding H1N1 influenza, as transmission could increase again without warning as we move into winter and regular flu season.
DHH's Fight the Flu campaign aims to keep Louisianians healthy by promoting immunizations and good hygiene to prevent the spread of the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus. For more information on flu activity in Louisiana, including guidance for families and medical professionals, visit www.FightTheFluLA.com or follow the campaign at www.twitter.com/FightTheFluLA.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov.
-30-
