Prevention and Control of Influenza and
Pneumococcal Disease
The purpose of this document is to provide important information
regarding immunization for influenza and pneumococcal disease.
Health and residential
care providers are encouraged to evaluate the immunization status of all
individuals to whom they provide care and assistance and to facilitate
increased immunization.
Most elderly and other at-risk populations do not
live in nursing homes or facilities for the developmentally disabled.
Therefore it is especially important that all types of health and
residential care providers address this issue.
The information and
resources provided here convey facts that can be used to overcome barriers
and correct misconceptions that often hinder people from becoming
immunized.
Wisconsin Immunization Information
On June 17, 2003 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an
intranasal, trivalent, cold-adapted live attenuated influenza vaccine for
use in healthy persons aged 5 – 49 years to prevent influenza A and B.
Use the link below for information on the Live, Attenuated, Intranasally-administered
Vaccine:
If providers encounter difficulties with the influenza vaccine they may
contact the Wisconsin Influenza Coordinator, Tom Haupt at (608) 266-5326, or e-mail: Tom.Haupt@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Providers' Role
Providers should actively encourage life-saving immunizations by
consistently following the three important steps below:
clients, residents, patients and staff about the
benefits of immunizations.
Facilitate access to immunizations for clients, residents,
patients, and staff. Public health departments are often interested in
providers offering areas for them to set up immunization clinics.
Set an Example. People in leadership positions should be immunized
and they should also encourage employees to be immunized.
- Some
providers encourage their employees using the phrase, "You don’t
get it for yourself, you get it for the residents."
- For most people
in the adult work force, influenza can mean a miserable illness and
perhaps lost wages, but most healthy adults recover.
- However, when
employees have highly communicable illnesses, such as influenza, the
chances are great that these illnesses will be passed on to clients,
patients and residents, placing many vulnerable people at increased risk of
a potentially deadly illness.
Resources for Further Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC-Info Contact
Center:
1-800-232-4636 (English and Spanish)
1-888-232-6348 (TTY)
1-770-488-4760 (Fax)
The primary web site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
is: www.cdc.gov/ (exit
DHS).
Diabetes - Diabetes
and Flu/Pneumococcal
(exit DHS) -
specific considerations of the person with diabetes. Additional
information is available through the Wisconsin Diabetes
Prevention and Control Program.
Local Public Health Departments
Contact your local public health department for information regarding
vaccination clinics.
The Division of Quality Assurance - Questions may be directed to the
following contact persons in the Division of Quality Assurance
(Hours - 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday).
-
Nursing Homes and Facilities Serving
People with Developmental Disabilities should contact the
appropriate Resident Care
Review regional office.
-
Community Based Residential Facilities,
Adult Family Homes, Adult Day
Care Providers and Residential Care Apartment Complexes should contact
the appropriate Assisted Living regional office.
-
All Other Providers Should Contact: Bureau
of Health Services, Cremear Mims, Director, Phone: (608) 243-2028, Fax: (608) 243-2026
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Last Updated:
April 16, 2013 |
