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Flu Vaccination Guidelines
With flu season approaching, now is the time for Humana members
and medical staff members to get the flu vaccine to prevent catching
the flu or spreading the virus.
The best time to be vaccinated is in September, or as soon as
the vaccine is available. However, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) notes that vaccinating anytime during the
fall, winter or early spring can be beneficial.
People recommended for flu vaccination are:
- Children 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- Mujeres embarazadas
- Adults 50 years old and older
- Adults and children of any age with certain chronic medical
conditions
- Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- Anyone who lives with or cares for those at high risk
for complications from flu, including:
- Trabajadores de atención de la salud
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications
from the flu
- Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children
less than 6 months old (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting
a physician. Éstos incluyen:
- Anyone who has a severe allergy to chicken eggs
- Anyone who has had a severe reaction to an influenza
vaccination
- Anyone who has developed Guillain-Barré syndrome
(GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine
- Children less than 6 months old (influenza vaccine is
not approved for this age group)
- Individuals with a moderate to severe illness with a
fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated)
Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA)
Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC)
recommended that the vaccines to be used in the 2009-10 influenza
season in the United States contain the following1:
- A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus
- A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus
- B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus
Besides the seasonal flu, patients may be exposed to other flu
viruses. For example, in recent years, there have been Avian Flu
outbreaks in different countries around the world. Of particular
concern recently is the H1N1 Swine Flu outbreak. This situation
continues to evolve. For the most up-to-date information, please
visit the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/.
Para obtener más información, visite el sitio Web de los CDC en www.cdc.gov/flu.
Members can visit MyHumana at Humana.com to find additional information
at the flu and pneumonia condition center.
If your practice is unable to supply flu shots, consider referring
patients to the American Lung Association Flu Clinic Locator (http://www.flucliniclocator.org).
When
Pneumonia Vaccination is Advised
In addition to influenza vaccination, members may need
a pneumococcal vaccine if they
- Are 65 or older
- Are between the ages of 19 and 64 and are smokers
or have asthma
- Reside in a nursing home and have not been previously
vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccine
- Are 2 years old or older and have long-term health
conditions other than asthma. These conditions include
heart, lung, liver, kidney or sickle cell disease, diabetes,
alcoholism, leaks of cerebrospinal fluid, cancer, HIV/AIDS,
a weakened immune system, or a removed or damaged spleen.
- Are a member of a community with high rates of
pneumococcal infection. Certain Native American (i.e.,
Alaska Native, Navajo and Apache) populations are at
increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal
vaccine is recommended for these groups.
Usually a single dose of the vaccine is enough for protection.
Some individuals need a second dose, which follows five
years after the first dose. |
1 http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/
Post-MarketActivities/LotReleases/ucm162050.htm
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