Inside Duke Medicine

Flu shots scheduled

With the 2008-09 flu season rapidly approaching, Duke Medicine again is gearing up to offer free vaccinations to all employees at Duke, Durham Regional and Duke Raleigh hospitals starting Oct. 6.

For a complete list of vaccination locations and times go to: http://www.hr.duke.edu/eohw.

Please remember to have your valid Duke ID.

At Duke Hospital, employees will be able to get the free shots outside the 2000 Duke North Lecture Halls.  Days and times are Oct. 6, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Oct. 7, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Oct. 8, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Oct. 9, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; and Oct. 10, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Or, starting Oct. 6,  simply walk into the Employee Occupational Health and Wellness clinic anytime Monday through Friday, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (except for Wednesdays between noon- 2 p.m., when the clinic is closed). The clinic is in the Red Zone, basement level of the Duke Clinic Building.

Meanwhile, also starting Oct. 6., Employee Occupational Health and Wellness nurses will administer the vaccine on the nursing units at regular intervals through mid-December.

Flu shots also will be available from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Health Fair at the Searle Center.

Here is more information, from the Centers for Disease Control:

Vaccine Supply
How much flu vaccine will be available for the 2008-09 influenza season?
Vaccine manufacturer’s are projecting that as many as 143 million to 146 million doses of influenza vaccine will be produced for use in the United States during the 2008-09 influenza season. This is an all-time high supply of vaccine making it possible for more people than ever to seek protection from the flu.

Timing of Vaccination
When should I get vaccinated for the 2008-09 flu season?
Yearly flu vaccination should begin as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January, and beyond. Influenza season most often peaks in February, but influenza viruses can continue to cause illness into the spring. For people not able to get their influenza vaccine in the fall, vaccination in December, January and beyond is beneficial in most years. (For general information on the timing of flu seasons in the United States, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm.)

Vaccination Protection
If I get vaccinated now, will I be protected all season?
Yes. The protection (immunity) provided by the vaccine lasts about a year, so, for example, vaccination in August or September provides protection for the duration of the United States flu season, which can last until April or May. Getting vaccinated as soon as vaccine is available may be most important for children being vaccinated against flu for the first time, who need to get two doses of flu vaccine at least 4 weeks apart.
Will this year’s vaccine protect me against the flu?
The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This year’s influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains.
They are:
• A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus;
• A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
• B/Florida/4/2006-like virus.
The 2008-09 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.
For more information about the effectiveness of flu vaccine, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm
For more information about how the viruses in the vaccine are selected, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/virusqa.htm

Who should get vaccinated this season?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended by CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that certain people should get vaccinated each year. Most of these people are recommended for vaccination because they are at high risk of having serious flu complications or they live with or care for people at high risk for serious complications.
People recommended for vaccination during the 2008-09 flu season are:
• Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• 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 out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

Content Source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID)
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)