It's not too late to get a flu shot
Vaccine still available for high-risk patients

HONOLULU – Flu can be a serious disease. Over 114,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die each year in the United States from the flu. Hawaii is currently seeing more cases than at the same time last year due to an earlier than usual start to the flu season. So it’s still not too late to get a flu shot.

The Department of Health is encouraging individuals at high-risk for complications from the flu to get vaccinated now. If your doctor doesn’t have flu vaccine available, he/she can refer you to a Department of Health clinic for a flu shot. Patients that fall into the high-risk groups for complications from the flu are:

• Healthy children aged 6–23 months
• Adults aged 65 years and older
• Pregnant women in their second or third trimester during flu season
• Persons aged > 2 years with underlying chronic conditions

If you are not at high-risk for influenza complications but still want to be protected from the flu, call your doctor about the new nasal spray flu vaccine (FluMistJ ), for healthy persons aged 5-49 years. The Department of Health has provided 1,500 doses of FluMistJ without cost to Hawaii physicians. If your doctor does not have the nasal spray flu vaccine available, visit www.flumist.com to find a doctor with FluMistJ in your area.

The Department has also sent new posters to schools, hospitals and doctor’s offices statewide that remind those with illness to practice good health habits to stop the spread of germs (a pdf of the poster is available at www.hawaii.gov/doh). The posters emphasize good respiratory "etiquette" which includes:

• Covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand cleaner
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Staying home if you’re sick -- away from others that could become infected

Also, getting plenty of rest, eating nutritious food and limiting the intake of alcohol can strengthen the immune system and help keep you healthy.

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For more information, contact:

Judy Strait-Jones
Department of Health, Immunization Program
Public Health Educator
Phone: (808) 586-8321
E-mail: Judy.Strait-Jones@mail.health.state.hi.us

Janice Okubo
Department of Health
Phone: (808) 586-4442
E-mail: jokubo@mail.health.state.hi.us