Flu Season Is Coming

Sept. 24, 2008 — -- With the onset of flu season, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, in conjunction with a number of other major health organizations, unveiled its plan to combat influenza this flu season, holding a conference this morning to discuss new vaccine recommendations and address how this year's flu vaccine will protect recipients.

Among new recommendations for the year will include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommending flu vaccines for anyone older than 6 months of age and advising people to get vaccinated later in the season if they cannot do it sooner, because vaccinations slow down in November, while the flu peaks in February and persists through May.

While in past years having enough flu vaccine has been a problem, expectations are that enough will be available this year for anyone who tries to get a flu shot.

"Given the robust supply, I think the emphasis this year is, get out there and get protected and protect others and, for sure, protect our children," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC.

Other organizations participating in the announcement included the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the AARP.

The sentiments of the conference participants have been echoed by other health professionals.

"We should have plenty of flu vaccine, given that there are people who just aren't going to take it," said Dr. Carol J. Baker, who was not at the conference.

Baker, the executive director of the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research and a pediatrician at Baylor College of Medicine, said, "[We're] in much better shape to prevent influenza than we've ever been, historically."

Vaccine manufacturers are also preparing for high demand.

"We cannot anticipate how many people will receive an influenza vaccine this year. However, to help meet CDC vaccination recommendations, Novartis Vaccines is producing up to 40 million doses of Fluvirin," said Beth Birke, a spokeswoman for Novartis, one of several companies that manufactures an approved flu vaccine.