H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza
Seasonal Influenza
For older adults, the seasonal flu can be very serious. Each year in the U.S., an average of 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized from serious flu complications. Ninety percent of flu deaths and more than half of hospitalizations from the flu occur in people age 65 and older. Research shows that 30 percent of all Americans age 65 and older don't get an annual flu vaccination.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 50 and older should get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible.
For more information, please visit flu.gov.
H1N1 Influenza Virus
The 2009 H1N1 flu (also known as the Swine Flu) is a new and different strain of virus from the seasonal flu. It is contagious and spreads from person to person. Like the seasonal flu, illness in people with H1N1 (Swine) flu can vary from mild to severe.
Recent studies have shown that many persons aged 65 and older may have some level of immunity against the H1N1 (Swine) flu virus and are believed to be less vulnerable to contracting the disease because of a lifetime exposure to a wide variety of viruses over the years. As a result, older Americans are not among the priority groups to receive the H1N1 (Swine) flu virus. Federal guidelines call for the new H1N1 (Swine) vaccine to be given first to pregnant women, those who live with or care for children 6 months or younger, health care workers, people aged 6 months through 24, and people with chronic health problems or compromised immune systems.
Individuals of all ages with chronic health concerns are more vulnerable if they get sick from the H1N1 flu virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that persons aged 65 and older who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of flu complications should plan to get the H1N1 (Swine) flu virus as soon as possible. These health conditions include: cancer, blood disorders, chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, asthma and HIV.
All persons aged 65 and over should plan to get the H1N1 flu vaccine after the priority groups have been served.
Form more information, please go to flu.gov. (http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/seniors/index.html)
Other Resources Include:
“What You Should Know and Do this Flu Season If You Are 65 Years and Older.”
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/65andolder.htm.
Information about Medicare coverage is available from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1/.
Immunization Action Coalition is a non-profit organization, distributes recent and factual information about preventable diseases and immunizations for public and health care professionals at: http://www.immunize.org/. This website also includes an Adult Vaccination Guide: http://www.immunize.org/guide/.
Federal Planning and Response
Technical Assistance Resources
Public Health Emergency Resources
Links to Other Resources and Organizations
| Last Modified: 10/19/2009 11:13:45 AM |
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