Flu shot conservation

On Oct. 19, 2004, the Minnesota Department of Health announced more changes in flu shot recommendations for the 2004-2005 influenza season. To conserve available supplies of the flu vaccine for those who need it the most, local health officials are asking health care workers in good health and 49 years or younger to forgo flu shots, if they haven’t already been vaccinated.

Flu shots were recommended for health care workers who have face-to-face contact with ill patients. Officials now recommend that health care workers should be vaccinated with the FluMist nasal solution, if it’s available. They also encourage healthy people, 5 to 49 years old, who live with or care for infants, 6 months or younger, to use FluMist instead of shots.

FluMist can’t be used by people who are at high risk for flu complications.

People in these groups should still receive flu shots:

all children aged 6 to 23 months

adults who are 65 years or older

persons, ages 2 to 64, with underlying chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes heart disease or HIV/AIDS

women who will be pregnant during the influenza season (usually December to March)

residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities

children and teenagers who need to regularly take aspirin

out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of infants, 6 months and younger

Source: Minnesota Department of Health

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