FRANCAIS

December 02, 2004

Manitoba’s publicly-funded influenza vaccine program is returning to the vaccine eligibility requirements announced on Oct. 14, 2004.

Now that there has been adequate time to immunize those at highest risk and front line health care workers, Manitoba Health recommends the use of remaining vaccine for those eligible including others capable of transmitting flu to those at high risk.

The flu shot is available free of charge to individuals who meet the eligibility requirements. These include:

a) people at high risk including:

·         children aged six to 23 months;

·         adults 65 years of age and older;

·         adults and children with chronic heart or lung disorders (including chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis and asthma) severe enough to require regular medical care;

·         people of any age who are residents of personal care homes or other chronic care facilities;

·         adults and children with chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases, cancer, immunodeficiency, immunosuppression (due to underlying disease and/or therapy), kidney disease, anemia, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, alcoholism and other similar conditions; and

·         children and adolescents (age six months to 18 years) with conditions treated for long periods with acetylsalicylic acid.

b) people capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk, including:

·         household contacts of children under six months of age (who are at high risk of complications from influenza but for whom there is currently no licensed vaccine);

·         household contacts of children six to 23 months;

·         pregnant women in their third trimester expected to deliver between Oct. 1 and March 31;

·         those providing regular child care to children from birth to 23 months, whether in or out of the home;

·         health-care workers, volunteers and other personnel in settings where care is provided for those at high risk noted above. This would include employees in hospitals, physicians’ offices, personal care homes, seniors’ recreation centres, home care employees and first responders (police officers, firefighters, ambulance workers);

·         household contacts of people at high risk of influenza complications including family, relatives or friends of persons in chronic care institutions who visit frequently; and

·         household contacts of people 65 years of age and over.

Manitobans are encouraged to contact Health Links-Info Santé in Winnipeg at 788-8200 or (toll free) 1-888-315-9257 to see if they meet the eligibility requirements for Manitoba’s publicly-funded influenza vaccination program.

More information is available on the Manitoba Health website at:

http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/flu/index.html.

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