Alexandria Health Department has announced that beginning Jan. 3, 2005 the Centers for Disease Control will lower the "at-risk" age eligibility definition to receive flu vaccine from 65 to 50. How, or if, this will be adopted by the Virginia Department of Health has not been determined at this time, according to John Clizbe, emergency planner, Alexandria Department of Health
"At the present time we have distributed almost all the vaccine we have available. But, we are retaining some in anticipation of the change on Jan. 3," Clizbe said. "Of course anyone in the high risk category, regardless of their age, can receive a flu shot."
Clizbe urged anyone in that category, which includes those with chronic respiratory conditions, to "call the Alexandria Health Department. We know which medical practitioners have vaccine and we will put those people in touch with them."
He also urged any physicians who want more vaccine to call the Health Department at 703-838-4400 Ext 270. "This is a special extension we have set up specifically for this purpose," Clizbe said.
Inova Health System recently completed its flu vaccine clinics for at-risk individuals in the 65 and older age bracket. "Our last clinic was on Dec. 17 and we administered 4,700 shots throughout our various facilities," Beth Visioli, IHS public information spokesperson, said.
Whether Virginia will put the new CDC guidelines into effect in January depends on whether or not all current needs under the present "at risk" age definition have been met, according to Lucy Caldwell, public information officer for the Northern Virginia Region, Virginia Department of Health.
"These decisions are made geographically and there are still regions in Virginia where the present high risk needs have not been met. Once we determine they have, we probably would follow the CDC guidelines and lower the age bracket definition," Caldwell said.
"My impression is that there is also more vaccine going to be made available in January and this would impact the decision as well. We are in constant contact with medical practitioners statewide in assessing the situation," she said.