For Immediate Release
October 29, 2004
Please Contact: Colin Durrant (617)722-1650 or
Dalié Jiménez, 617-722-1650

Barrios Announces New Flu Vaccine Information

Boston, MA – In response to questions and concerns from residents, Senator Jarrett T. Barrios (D-Cambridge) today announced newly released information from the Department of Public Health regarding availability of flu vaccine.

“We’ve all been concerned about reports of inadequate amounts of flu vaccine for those who need it most,” said Senator Barrios, who serves as the Vice-Chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Health Care. “The state’s acting to make sure everyone who needs the vaccine gets it.”

At a October 27 press conference Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Christine C. Ferguson said that she had received information from Aventis yesterday that private health care providers in Massachusetts had received 600,000 flu shots, which means combined with the 400,000 doses DPH expects to receive the state will have one million flu vaccines available for individuals in high risk groups.

DPH will begin immediately to distribute the flu vaccine via local boards of health, nursing homes, public hospitals and physicians that treat members of high risk groups. This system has proven over the years as the most effective method to ensure vaccine reaches every region of the state. Flu vaccine should become available in doctors offices and other health care provider locations beginning early next week.

“The Department will continue to closely monitor the flu vaccine supply,” said Commissioner Ferguson. “As more doses become available, additional members of high risk groups including healthy people 65 to 74 years and additional health care workers and first responders may receive the flu shot this year.”

DPH has determined that health care providers should use the limited supply of vaccine for individuals in the following high-risk categories first:

• All children aged six to 23 months;
• Individuals aged 75 years or older;
• Residents of long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities;
• Children aged six months to 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy;
• Individuals aged two to 74 years with one or more chronic medical conditions requiring frequent or ongoing medical management;
• All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
• All health care workers aged 50 years and older who provide direct patient care and those 49 years of age and younger who provide direct patient care to severely immune compromised patients in protected environments, because these health care workers at not eligible for FluMist;
• Any other individual who, in the professional judgment of their health care provider, is at high risk for severe complications or life threatening illness from the flu.

Meanwhile, Barrios encouraged individuals to follow these simple steps to prevent the spread of flu:

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand gel frequently.
• Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Do not take young children, those with immune system problems or the chronically ill into large crowds unnecessarily when the flu is in your community.
• Stay home from work or school and avoid public activities for at least five (seven for children) days if you have symptoms of the flu.
• Do not share items that can spread germs and viruses, like drinking cups, straws, or other items you put in your mouth.
• Clean things that are touched often in the household, classroom and child care setting such as: doors, refrigerator handles, phones and water faucets.

Members of the public considered high risk should call DPH’s flu vaccine hotline toll free at (866) 627-7968 to obtain information about where and when they may receive a flu shot in their community. For more information regarding flu vaccine availability and steps you can take to protect yourself from the flu please go to: http://www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/epii/flu/flu1.htm

# # #

The Jarrett Barrios Website is privately paid for and authorized by
The Barrios Committee, Daniel Schlozman, Treasurer
PO Box 391254, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 661-1805
Problems? Contact webmaster@senatorbarrios.org

Text portions, photographs, graphics, and source code © 2002-2005, The Barrios Committee. All rights reserved.
Click here for our full Privacy/Copyright/Linking Policy.