FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 25, 2006
Contact: Jeff Kasper, (907) 465-8194, Cell (907) 321-3158
Ross Soboleff, (907) 465-1611, Cell (907) 321-3838
Flu season prompts timely vaccination for all Alaskans
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( Juneau, Alaska) — Today Gov. Frank H. Murkowski and First Lady Nancy Murkowski received influenza vaccinations to raise awareness of influenza immunization season. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services encourages Alaskans aged 6 months and older to receive influenza vaccinations.
“Influenza vaccination is the single most effective means for preventing infection and associated complications,” Gov. Murkowski said. “People can benefit from vaccination throughout the influenza season, even after influenza has appeared in a community.”
Although the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages anyone who wants to be protected against influenza to get vaccinated, people at highest risk of developing complications are particularly advised to do so. These include children between 6 months and 5 years of age; people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and compromised immune systems; people 50 years of age and older; and pregnant women. Health-care workers and people who live with or care for persons in these groups also should be vaccinated to decrease the chance of transmitting influenza.
Influenza, also known as the flu, is caused by infection from the influenza virus. It is a contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that attacks the respiratory system. Approximately 36,000 people die annually from influenza in the United States, and more than 200,000 are hospitalized. Generally, an individual develops protection about two weeks after being vaccinated. Normally influenza activity does not peak until February or later.
Because Alaska public and private healthcare providers order flu vaccine from several different manufacturers and distributors, vaccine will arrive in Alaska at different times throughout the fall. People should check with their healthcare provider to determine vaccine availability on any given day. Information on some clinics also is available on the Web at www.flucliniclocator.org.
For additional immunization information, call your healthcare provider, local public health center, local pharmacy, or the Alaska Immunization Hotline at 269-8088 in Anchorage or 1-888-430-4321. Information is available on the Web at www.epi.alaska.gov/immunize-30-
Fact Sheet: Influenza Immunization Awareness Season -- facts about the flu (PDF 50KB)
Photo: Governor Murkowski gets a flu shot (JPG 2.6 MB) smaller file (JPG 223KB)
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