Telephone (508) 487-7000 ext. 537
Facsimile (508) 487-0032
Public Notice
“Let’s Talk Flu.”
PROVINCETOWN – Let’s talk flu.
Seasonal flu occurs every year. Because
the flu virus is always changing, you need a new flu vaccine every year. Flu is a very contagious disease of the
respiratory (breathing) system. The flu
caused by a virus is easily passed from one person to another by coughing and
sneezing. For most people, the flu
makes them feel very sick, but they generally get better in about a week. However, young children, people older then
65 years of age, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions can
have serious complications from the flu.
These complications can include pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of
medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma.
Flu
is something to take seriously. Follow
these simple steps to help protect yourself and your family:
-Wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand
sanitizer,
-Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and avoid
touching your eyes, nose or mouth,
-Avoid close contact with others who are sick and stay
home when you are sick,
-Talk with your doctor about getting yearly flu
vaccine and ask if you should also get Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
(PPV).[1] The PPV vaccine so for children less than 2
years and all persons 65 years or older also person suffering from chronic
disease ages 2-64 years of age.
When
you talk to your doctor about getting a flu vaccine understand that there are
two types of vaccine available:
An
inactivated (killed) flu vaccine[2],
or “flu shot,” has been in the United States for many years. It is given by injection. It is recommended for
people at high risk for complications from flu. People over 65 years of age and older, and persons with the
following conditions:
-health care providers and first
responders,
-persons in long-term care facilities,
-persons with long-term health problems,
-persons with weakened immune systems,
-persons on long-term aspirin treatment,
-pregnant women,
-All children 6-59 months of age.
A
live, attenuated (weakened) flu
vaccine[3]
(LAIV) was licensed in 2003. It is
sprayed into the nostrils and is recommended for healthy children and adults from
5 through 49 years of age and persons who are not pregnant. If
you fall into one of the following categories you SHOULD NOT get the
live attenuated flu vaccine:
-Adults 50 years of age or older or
children younger than 5,
-Persons who have long-term health
problems,
-Persons with weakened immune
systems,
-Children or adolescents on
long-term aspirin treatment,
-Pregnant women,
-Anyone with a history of
Guillain-Barre syndrome, also called GBS.
Both
vaccines take about 2 weeks for protection to develop and can last up to a
year.
Flu
kills about 36,000 people each year in the United States.[4] Occasionally a completely new flu virus
develops and this new virus can cause an outbreak to occur. This flu isn’t necessarily stronger, but
because it is new many more people are susceptible to getting it.
We
also hear a lot about avian or bird flu, a flu caused by a virus that infects
birds. It is very rarely passed on to
humans. In some areas of the world,
however, a small number of people have gotten sick through very close contact
with infected chickens.
Provincetown’s
citizen emergency preparedness working group in concert with Barnstable County
Regional Emergency Planning Committee and State Department of Public Health
(MDPH) is preparing for a flu outbreak and/or flu pandemic. We can lessen the effects of an outbreak or
pandemic if we all prepare ahead of time.
The best thing that you can do it to stay informed.
Further
information on flu clinics in Provincetown can be obtained by contacting the Provincetown
Health and Human Services Department by calling 508-487-7099. For information regarding pandemic planning
and emergency preparedness and how you can get involved please contact Brian
Carlson, Health Inspector/Deputy Emergency Manager at 508-487-7000 ext.
537.
Check
for constant updates on flu clinics and emergency preparedness on the Town of
Provincetown web page at www.provincetown-ma.gov.
[1] Pneumococcal polysaccharide disease can lead to serious infections of the lungs (pneumonia), the blood (bacteremia), and the covering of the brain (meningitis). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
[2] Vaccine Information Statement, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-26, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (6/30/06)
[3] Vaccine Information Statement, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-26, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (6/30/06)
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov