04450
October 8, 2004

PC(USA) health office says flu vaccine shortage should be taken seriously

Congregations need to take an active role, Gleich insists

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE — With only about half the needed flu vaccine doses available this year, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations must take a more active role in helping protect their members and communities, the denomination’s top health official said today.

      “The demographics of our congregations place many Presbyterians in the high-risk group for flu and flu complications,” said Pat Gleich, associate for National Health Ministries. “We do need to be vigilant with babies and small children, but I am particularly concerned about older individuals who are living alone and may not have access to the vaccines or may not have someone else close by to check in on them.” 

      U.S. public health officials announced earlier this week that approximately one-half of the flu vaccines — 46 million of the anticipated 100 million — for the upcoming flu season will not be shipped from the Chiron plant in England where they have been manufactured.  The vaccines have apparently been contaminated with a bacterium called Serratia and cannot be administered safely.

      Additionally, Gleich noted, without a national method to coordinate distribution of the available vaccines, there will likely be geographic areas where finding vaccines for even the people at greatest risk will be difficult. 

      In order to get the available vaccines to people at greatest risk — the very young, the very old, and people with complicating medical conditions — Atlanta’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) has requested volunteer rationing and revised its priority list for those most needing the vaccine.

      In past years the priority group totaled 180 million Americans. This year’s revised group is estimated at about 100 million — still almost double the number of flu vaccines available.

      Currently only two pharmaceutical companies manufacture the injectable form of the vaccine, made with a killed flu virus. Health officials blame lack of profitability for the dearth of vaccine manufacturers.

      Gleich said there are two types of vaccines that protect against the flu: the injectable vaccine containing a killed virus, and a second, more expensive one — recommended only for individuals between the ages of 5 and 49 who are healthy and who will have no contact with anyone who is ill for a minimum of 7 days — which comes as a nasal spray.

      Each year almost 40,000 people die of the flu and related complications and nearly 120,000 flu-sufferers are hospitalized.  According to the American Lung Association, the cost of the annual flu season approaches $12 billion.

      “If one totally ignores the human cost at a time of rising health costs, the $2 billion in direct physician, pharmaceutical and hospital charges for an illness that is largely preventable would seem to underscore the importance of adequate vaccines and a more thorough flu vaccination program,” Gleich said. “It is difficult not to ask, ‘How has this situation been allowed to continue?’ “

      Gleich noted that this flu season is going to be compounded by the recent spate of hurricanes in the Southeast. “People have strained personal finances and are living in homes that have been damaged, with less than adequate utility and service systems restored,” she said.  “We have been told that energy costs will rise dramatically and, with fewer and unevenly distributed flu vaccines, “there will simply be an increase in the cases of the flu.”

      Thus it is critically important, Glech added, that congregations monitor the health of their members more closely — particularly those at risk — and work with local officials to ensure maximum efforts to combat the disease in their communities.

      “It becomes even more critical for each person to remember that the flu virus is transmitted through the air (by coughing, sneezing) and by contact — touching a surface that someone who has the flu has touched,” she said. 

      Health officials have identified several simple rules that can help:

      Avoid close contact with people who have the flu unless you have been vaccinated.  Use telephone calls or visits (using masks if necessary) with ill folks who live alone to be certain that they are not developing complications.

      Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. If you do not recover according to your typical response to the flu, be certain that you visit your health care provider.

      Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

      Clean your hands. Washing them often will help protect you from germs.

      Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth unnecessarily. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

      Be certain that children and adolescents who show symptoms of the flu are not given aspirin, which increases their risk for Reye’s syndrome. 

      Engage your congregation in community outreach: make certain that people in high-risk groups — particularly children under 2 and adults over 65 who have chronic conditions that limit mobility — are identified and have transportation to sites where flu vaccinations are being given.

      For further information on health-related information and issues for congregations, visit the Web site www.pcusa.org/health/usaor contact Pat Gleich by email at pgleich@ctr.pcusa.orgor by phone at 888-728-7228, ext. 5793.