Flu season peaking; vaccines ordered for next year
By Angela Fornelli
staff writer
AURORA ? Flu season is not yet over this year, but local health agencies are already working to ensure they'll have enough vaccine for next year.
"It appears there's some urgency with ordering," said Mary Tebeau, community health program manager for the Kane County Health Department. "Last year, we didn't order until June."
Some vaccine suppliers notified agencies of shorter ordering deadlines this year, which prompted an influx of orders in January.
"It took a long, long time to get a hold of them (the vaccine supplier). We had to be persistent," said Linda Swanson, community health services administrator for the Kendall County Health Department. "Once you've been told you have to get your order in for flu vaccine, you don't want to be empty handed."
The Kane health department is working to secure about 3,000 doses, the same amount it ordered and received this year, Tebeau said.
Swanson said the Kendall County Health Department was lucky to have placed the order by the end of January; They were notified in early-February that the company from which they ordered, Sanofi Pasteur, had filled all its orders for next year and was taking no more requests.
Hoping for more doses
In addition to ordering earlier this year, some health centers are ordering more doses.
Visiting Nurse Association of the Fox Valley, the main supplier of vaccine to Kane and Kendall residents, ordered 25,000 doses, up from the 15,000 the agency dispersed this year and last year, said Linnea Windel, president and CEO.
Dreyer Medical Clinic, which supplied 14,000 doses to established patients this year, also ordered more for next year to accommodate its growing patient base, said Nancy Hopp, marketing director.
Both VNA and Dreyer ordered vaccine from two companies to buffer from any potential shortage or delay.
"You're never sure what you'll get," Windel said. "It's just to be safe."
Aurora Pediatrics doubled its order to 600 due to increased demand, said nurse Sharon Hogan.
Flu season peaking
Local emergency rooms have seen more patients presenting with flu-like symptoms in the last two weeks.
"The emergency department has been very busy since Jan. 1, and a lot of it is flu related," said Wilma Hart-Flynn, director of the emergency department at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora. "The last couple weeks have been especially busy."
Emergency room physicians at Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva and officials at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora said they've experienced a similar pattern.
Kane County Health Department surveillance indicates a gradual increase of ER visits for flu-like symptoms since early January, with a peak reaching nearly 10 percent of all ER visitors during the week ending Feb. 18.
Flu-like symptoms are defined in the surveillance as having a temperature above 100 degrees and either a cough or sore throat in the absence of a known cause other than influenza.
The amount of patients testing positive for influenza also reached its highest point ? nearly 30 percent of those tested ? during that week, according to surveillance of three hospital labs in the county.
Cindy Gross, epidemiologist for the health department, noted that those aged 64 and older have been the age group with the least amount of visits to the ER, despite the age group's high risk for complications from influenza.
"They are also the highest to get vaccinated, so this could be an indication that the vaccine does work," she said.
Still time for shot
It's not too late to receive a flu shot. The Kane and Kendall county health departments each have about 50 doses remaining.
?Kane County residents can call (1-866) BEE-WIZE for more information.
?Kendall County residents can call (630) 553-9100 to set up an appointment or attend a clinic on Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m. at the health department, 811 W. John St., Yorkville.
9 March 06
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/city/2_1_AU09_FLU_S1.htm
By Angela Fornelli
staff writer
AURORA ? Flu season is not yet over this year, but local health agencies are already working to ensure they'll have enough vaccine for next year.
"It appears there's some urgency with ordering," said Mary Tebeau, community health program manager for the Kane County Health Department. "Last year, we didn't order until June."
Some vaccine suppliers notified agencies of shorter ordering deadlines this year, which prompted an influx of orders in January.
"It took a long, long time to get a hold of them (the vaccine supplier). We had to be persistent," said Linda Swanson, community health services administrator for the Kendall County Health Department. "Once you've been told you have to get your order in for flu vaccine, you don't want to be empty handed."
The Kane health department is working to secure about 3,000 doses, the same amount it ordered and received this year, Tebeau said.
Swanson said the Kendall County Health Department was lucky to have placed the order by the end of January; They were notified in early-February that the company from which they ordered, Sanofi Pasteur, had filled all its orders for next year and was taking no more requests.
Hoping for more doses
In addition to ordering earlier this year, some health centers are ordering more doses.
Visiting Nurse Association of the Fox Valley, the main supplier of vaccine to Kane and Kendall residents, ordered 25,000 doses, up from the 15,000 the agency dispersed this year and last year, said Linnea Windel, president and CEO.
Dreyer Medical Clinic, which supplied 14,000 doses to established patients this year, also ordered more for next year to accommodate its growing patient base, said Nancy Hopp, marketing director.
Both VNA and Dreyer ordered vaccine from two companies to buffer from any potential shortage or delay.
"You're never sure what you'll get," Windel said. "It's just to be safe."
Aurora Pediatrics doubled its order to 600 due to increased demand, said nurse Sharon Hogan.
Flu season peaking
Local emergency rooms have seen more patients presenting with flu-like symptoms in the last two weeks.
"The emergency department has been very busy since Jan. 1, and a lot of it is flu related," said Wilma Hart-Flynn, director of the emergency department at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora. "The last couple weeks have been especially busy."
Emergency room physicians at Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva and officials at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora said they've experienced a similar pattern.
Kane County Health Department surveillance indicates a gradual increase of ER visits for flu-like symptoms since early January, with a peak reaching nearly 10 percent of all ER visitors during the week ending Feb. 18.
Flu-like symptoms are defined in the surveillance as having a temperature above 100 degrees and either a cough or sore throat in the absence of a known cause other than influenza.
The amount of patients testing positive for influenza also reached its highest point ? nearly 30 percent of those tested ? during that week, according to surveillance of three hospital labs in the county.
Cindy Gross, epidemiologist for the health department, noted that those aged 64 and older have been the age group with the least amount of visits to the ER, despite the age group's high risk for complications from influenza.
"They are also the highest to get vaccinated, so this could be an indication that the vaccine does work," she said.
Still time for shot
It's not too late to receive a flu shot. The Kane and Kendall county health departments each have about 50 doses remaining.
?Kane County residents can call (1-866) BEE-WIZE for more information.
?Kendall County residents can call (630) 553-9100 to set up an appointment or attend a clinic on Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m. at the health department, 811 W. John St., Yorkville.
9 March 06
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/city/2_1_AU09_FLU_S1.htm