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Flu News for Senior Citizens
Poll Finds Just 74 Percent of Senior Citizens
Planning on Flu Shots This Year
CVS, MinuteClinic, Walgreens, Walmart, Maxim begin flu shots this week
 Oct.
2, 2008 - Senior citizens are the
most likely to get a flu shot with 74 percent of those age 65 and older
planning to be vaccinated, compared to 58 percent of those age 55-64 and
43% of adults younger than 55, according to a CVS/pharmacy survey.
As flu season approaches and authorities report
vaccines are in ample supply, the new survey finds that only half of
adults (50%) plan to get a flu shot this year.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends
vaccinations as soon as they are available, yet the survey also revealed
that of those who normally get a flu shot, fewer than half (45 percent)
get vaccinated when flu shots are available, while the remainder (55
percent) wait until a normally scheduled visit to the doctor or health
care provider, or until flu season begins and they fear they will be
exposed to other people who get sick.
Each year as many as 60 million Americans fall
victim to influenza and flu-related complications, such as pneumonia,
resulting in 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths per year. The
CDC has determined that vaccinations are the single most effective way
to prevent flu and strongly encourages high-risk individuals to get
vaccinated.
CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic are offering flu
shots beginning this week. CVS/pharmacy will host approximately 7,500
flu shot clinic events and MinuteClinic will provide flu vaccines every
day on demand to people without an appointment at more than 500
locations across the country.
Both companies are divisions of CVS Caremark (NYSE:CVS),
which claims to be the largest provider of prescriptions in the country.
Maxim Health Systems announced today the launch of
its annual influenza vaccination program. Maxim flu shots are available
at more than 37,000 clinics nationwide. Finding the nearest location is
as simple as typing in your zip code on
http://www.FindaFluShot.com. This will provide the address, date,
and times for flu shots at local clinics. The Web site also provides the
latest news on influenza and links to other resources. For those who
prefer to find a convenient location over the phone, Maxim provides a
toll free number at 877-962-9358.
Walgreens has also begun to provide flu shots but
the dates of availability vary by store.
Click here to check Walgreens store locations.
Walmart, too, is open for flu vaccinations but it,
too, varies by store. Click here to check
Walmart store locations
"It's best to get vaccinated before the peak flu
season begins," said Papatya Tankut, R.Ph., Vice President of Pharmacy
Professional Services at CVS/pharmacy. "With so many convenient
locations for flu shots, there's no reason to wait."
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Most U.S.
Parents are Vaccinating According to New CDC Survey Vaccine
Coverage Rates for Children Remain High
The vast majority of the nation′s parents
are having their children get recommended vaccinations,
according to 2007 vaccine coverage estimates released September
4 by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Childhood immunization rates remain at or
near record levels, with at least 90 percent coverage for all
but one of the individual vaccines in the recommended series for
young children, said the CDC′s 2007 National Immunization Survey
(NIS).
More than 77 percent of children were
fully vaccinated with all vaccines in the
series of recommended vaccines, and there were no
differences in coverage among any racial or ethnic group for the
complete series. Importantly, less than 1 percent of children
had received no vaccines by age 19 months to 35 months.
>>
CDC Webpage on Flu |
This year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices has endorsed influenza vaccination for all children ages 6
months to 18 years. However, the survey revealed that just over half of
adults who have children under 18 in their household plan to have them
get a flu shot (53 percent). Parents with children under 12 are more
likely to plan to get them vaccinated than parents with children 12 and
older (60 percent vs. 39 percent). MinuteClinic will offer vaccinations
to children over 18 months.
"In addition to children and people over the age of
50, others who are at risk for the flu should be vaccinated as early as
possible," said Donna Haugland, Chief Nursing Officer for MinuteClinic.
"The CDC recommends annual flu shots for those with chronic disease such
as diabetes, asthma and heart disease, along with women who are pregnant
and health care providers."
Flu shots will be offered at all MinuteClinic
locations every day on demand with no appointment necessary.
MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by
masters-prepared, board-certified nurse practitioners who specialize in
family health care.
To find the nearest location of a MinuteClinic or
CVS/pharmacy flu shot clinic, or to determine the minimum age for flu
shots at CVS/pharmacy store events, consumers can call 1-888-FLU-SHOT or
go to
www.cvs.com. Flu shots at CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations
are $30 and may be covered by insurance.
>>
Theraflu Cold Tracker – check your area for reports on virus
activity
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