Contacts: 
Madison Public Health, Dr. Kathryn Vedder 266-4821
Dane County Public Health, Gareth Johnson 242-6511

MADISON, WI- Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz today urged persons in high-priority groups to get their flu shots without delay and emphasized there is more than enough vaccine at this moment to meet the needs.

"At this time, there are more than 45,000 doses of flu vaccine available in Dane County," said County Executive Falk. "That should be plenty to meet the needs of those who require this vaccine the most to protect themselves from the flu. People who need the vaccine can obtain it with the knowledge that there is enough for everyone in high priority groups to get a flu shot."

High-priority groups include individuals of any age with chronic illness, healthy adults over 65 years of age, children ages six to 23 months and pregnant women. "We understand some Dane County residents in these priority groups have heard there is a vaccine shortage and have opted to not get vaccinated because they thought others may need it more than they do," said Mayor Cieslewicz. "While that is a very altruistic, compassionate gesture, it is not necessary given the availability of vaccine at the present time in Dane County. People in these high-priority groups could become seriously ill or even die from the flu if they are not vaccinated."

Others included in high-priority categories that should be getting a flu shot now include:

• People living in nursing homes and long term care facilities
• Children 6 months through 18 years on long term aspirin therapy
• Parents and out-of-home care providers for children in high risk categories, including children under 6 months of age, who are not able to be immunized against flu.

In addition, health care workers who have close contact with patients have been added to the high-priority group of people who are permitted to receive a flu vaccine.

"The influenza season has started slowly, but there is no way to know how severe an outbreak we will see," said Dr. Kathryn Vedder, Madison Public Health Department Director. "What we do know is there are going to be far fewer people immunized against the flu which increases the risk of it’s spread which could in turn increase the threat to the elderly, young children and individuals with chronic illnesses who are not immunized."

"People also need to understand that the vaccine takes a couple of weeks to build the maximum protection in a person’s body, so again, the time is now to get the shot before the incidence of flu picks up," said Gareth Johnson, Dane County Division of Public Health Administrator. "We don’t want people to wait until later when there may not be as good a supply of vaccine for high-priority individuals."

Because of the nationwide shortage of flu vaccine, it is expected that shots will continue to be limited to only those in the high-priority groups.

Individuals in the high-priority categories should contact their own health care provider to schedule a flu shot. Persons without a regular health care provider, or whose health care provider no longer has vaccine available, can contact Home Health United at 257-6710 ext. 147 to receive information on how to receive a shot at one of their offices.