wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] PC(USA) health office says flu vaccine shortage

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8520 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

04450
October 8, 2004

PC(USA) health office says flu vaccine shortage should be taken seriously

Congregations need to take an active role, Gleich insists

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - With only about half the needed flu vaccine doses available this
year, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations must take a more active role
in helping protect their members and communities, the denomination's top
health official said today.

	"The demographics of our congregations place many Presbyterians in
the high-risk group for flu and flu complications," said Pat Gleich,
associate for National Health Ministries. "We do need to be vigilant with
babies and small children, but I am particularly concerned about older
individuals who are living alone and may not have access to the vaccines or
may not have someone else close by to check in on them."

	U.S. public healthfficials announced earlier this week that
approximately one-half of the flu vaccines - 46 million of the anticipated
100 million - for the upcoming flu season will not be shipped from the Chiron
plant in England where they have been manufactured.  The vaccines have
apparently been contaminated with a bacterium called Serratia and cannot be
administered safely.

	Additionally, Gleich noted, without a national method to coordinate
distribution of the available vaccines, there will likely be geographic areas
where finding vaccines for even the people at greatest risk will be
difficult.

	In order to get the available vaccines to people at greatest risk -
the very young, the very old, and people with complicating medical conditions
- Atlanta's Center for Disease Control (CDC) has requested volunteer
rationing and revised its priority list for those most needing the vaccine.

	In past years the priority group totaled 180 million Americans. This
year's revised group is estimated at about 100 million - still almost double
the number of flu vaccines available.

	Currently only two pharmaceutical companies manufacture the
injectable form of the vaccine, made with a killed flu virus. Health
officials blame lack of profitability for the dearth of vaccine
manufacturers.

	Gleich said there are two types of vaccines that protect against the
flu: the injectable vaccine containing a killed virus, and a second, more
expensive one -  recommended only for individuals between the ages of 5 and
49 who are healthy and who will have no contact with anyone who is ill for a
minimum of 7 days - which comes as a nasal spray.

	Each year almost 40,000 people die of the flu and related
complications and nearly 120,000 flu-sufferers are hospitalized.  According
to the American Lung Association, the cost of the annual flu season
approaches $12 billion.

	"If one totally ignores the human cost at a time of rising health
costs, the $2 billion in direct physician, pharmaceutical and hospital
charges for an illness that is largely preventable would seem to underscore
the importance of adequate vaccines and a more thorough flu vaccination
program," Gleich said. "It is difficult not to ask, 'How has this situation
been allowed to continue?' "

	Gleich noted that this flu season is going to be compounded by the
recent spate of hurricanes in the Southeast. "People have strained personal
finances and are living in homes that have been damaged, with less than
adequate utility and service systems restored," she said.  "We have been told
that energy costs will rise dramatically and, with fewer and unevenly
distributed flu vaccines, "there will simply be an increase in the cases of
the flu."

	Thus it is critically important, Glech added, that congregations
monitor the health of their members more closely - particularly those at risk
- and work with local officials to ensure maximum efforts to combat the
disease in their communities.

	"It becomes even more critical for each person to remember that the
flu virus is transmitted through the air (by coughing, sneezing) and by
contact - touching a surface that someone who has the flu has touched," she
said.

	Health officials have identified several simple rules that can help:

	Avoid close contact with people who have the flu unless you have been
vaccinated.  Use telephone calls or visits (using masks if necessary) with
ill folks who live alone to be certain that they are not developing
complications.

	Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school
and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching
your illness. If you do not recover according to your typical response to the
flu, be certain that you visit your health care provider.

	Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It
may prevent those around you from getting sick.

	Clean your hands. Washing them often will help protect you from
germs.

	Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth unnecessarily. Germs are
often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs
and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

	Be certain that children and adolescents who show symptoms of the flu
are not given aspirin, which increases their risk for Reye's syndrome.

	Engage your congregation in community outreach: make certain that
people in high-risk groups - particularly children under 2 and adults over 65
who have chronic conditions that limit mobility - are identified and have
transportation to sites where flu vaccinations are being given.

	For further information on health-related information and issues for
congregations, visit the Web site www.pcusa.org/health/usa or contact Pat
Gleich by email at pgleich@ctr.pcusa.org or by phone at 888-728-7228, ext.
5793.

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