Mainers urged to give the gift of health by getting flu shots

AUGUSTA – Despite questions about its efficacy, the flu vaccine is still available in Maine, and state health officials say it’s important for high-risk individuals to get protected against the virus that already has sickened thousands and caused several deaths in other states this year.

At a State House press conference Tuesday, Gov. John E. Baldacci was joined by Bureau of Health Director Dr. Dora Mills and state epidemiologist Kathleen Gensheimer in launching a flu awareness campaign with a seasonal theme.

“The best gift we can give this winter season to our families and to each other is to stay healthy,” Baldacci said. “This year’s flu season is already well-advanced in other parts of the country, so we want to be sure that everyone in Maine is prepared for the flu before the holidays.”

The governor urged Mainers to give themselves and their high-risk loved ones the pre-holiday gift of a flu vaccination.

The most high-risk individuals who should call their health care providers about getting the flu vaccine include people over age 50, anyone with a chronic disease, pregnant women beyond the first trimester, health care providers, and anyone who lives with or cares for someone who is over 50 or under 6 months of age, or who has a chronic disease. Children between 6 months and 2 years also should be vaccinated.

The governor also unveiled publicity materials intended to reinforce the basic lessons of stopping the spread of germs that cause disease: Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, place used tissues in a wastebasket and wash your hands often. If you do get sick, stay home. If you must go out, consider wearing a surgical mask to keep your germs confined.

The flu vaccine available nationwide this year was formulated to protect against three strains of the virus. But the strain actually circulating this year is somewhat different from those three, and it is probably too late to develop a new formula.

Even though one of the three is a close cousin of this season’s bug, whether that will be enough to help people ward off the flu is simply unknown. Some experts expect the level of protection to be 50 percent or less.

Even in the best of years, the flu shot is not foolproof. Ordinarily it is between 70 percent and 90 percent effective in healthy young adults and somewhat less effective in the elderly.

But doctors continue to urge people to get vaccinated, even though supplies are running short in parts of the country, because the vaccine may help make the flu less severe, even if it fails to give complete protection. It also protects against two other flu strains that could appear later in the season.

The shortage, however, has prompted a scaling back of initial recommendations that just about everyone get inoculated – now health officials are stressing that only the most at-risk individuals should step forward for the remaining doses.

Mills said there are pockets of vaccine shortages in Maine but no reports of widespread unavailability. Some clinics have more doses than they need, she noted. The state is working with health care providers to redistribute supplies, Mills said, and is also expecting a supplementary shipment of vaccine from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Bangor, the public health immunization clinic on Texas Avenue was hopping Tuesday afternoon. Senior citizens and families with children crowded the waiting room, and a line of about 20 people snaked toward the small exam room where clinic director Donna Guppy was administering the vaccine.

Guppy said demand at the clinic has been steady since October, but has swelled recently. “Generally by this time of year, we’re winding down,” she said. The clinic still has about 1,500 doses left, Guppy said, even after sending some back to the state for redistribution.

Area physicians’ offices that have run out of vaccine have referred many patients to the clinic. Clinic manager Peter Ramsey said flu immunizations will be given to all comers as long as the supply lasts.

Immunizations are available at the Bangor public health clinic at 103 Texas Ave. from 9 to 11 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday, and from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of every month, except on holidays.

For some people, the vaccine is free; others must pay a small administration fee.

More information is available at 941-0259, or on the Bureau of Health’s Web site, www.mainepublichealth.org.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.