Media Release

FOR: Immediate Release
DATE: October 7, 2004,
CONTACT: Maria Wah-Fitta (office 222-3998, cell 440-2027)

Nolan asks Businesses to Support Reallocation of Flu Vaccine to Highest Priority Groups
CVS Donates 2,500 doses to Health Department

Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health is asking all Rhode Island corporations, agencies, universities and businesses that have ordered the influenza vaccine for their employees or the convenience of their clients or customers to cancel any scheduled distribution plans and report their vaccine supply to the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH).

CVS suspended their in-store clinics as of yesterday and announced today that the company will donate 2,500 doses of flu vaccine to the State of Rhode Island’s Department of Health. Nolan commented, “We are extremely grateful to CVS for demonstrating leadership on a critical health care issue by suspending their flu clinics and donating their vaccine to the state. This donation is an important step in our efforts to ensure there is an adequate supply of influenza vaccine for the most high-risk individuals in Rhode Island.”

Health care providers, state agencies, municipalities, institutions and some businesses have received Influenza Vaccine Inventory forms from the Rhode Island Department of Health and have been asked to return them by the end of business today (Oct 7). If any corporation with vaccine did not receive an Inventory tool, they should download the form. (corrected October 8, 2004)

The federal government and all the states found out on Tuesday (Oct 5) that one of the two major suppliers of vaccine for the country lost its license and consequently, the expected supply of vaccine for the country would be cut almost in half. Rhode Island is devising a plan to ensure that those in the highest priority groups receive their vaccine first. Although influenza is usually a five to ten day illness in healthy individuals, it can be deadly for very young children, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the priority groups for influenza vaccine (of equal importance) are:

• All children aged 6–23 months,
• Adults 65 or older years,
• Persons between the ages of 2–64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions,
• All women who will be pregnant during influenza season,
• Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities,
• Children 6 months-18 years of age on chronic aspirin therapy,
• Health-care workers with direct patient care, and
• Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children aged under 6 months.

Additional general information on the influenza vaccine, influenza symptoms and precautions to avoid influenza is available from the Department of Health’s Family Health Information Line at 1-800-942-7434 and on the Department’s Web site: www.HEALTH.RI.gov. The Family Health Information Line will offer extended hours of operation today from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. On Friday the Line will open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.