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‘Flu vaccine enough for high-risk groups’
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Posted on Mar 28 2005
Public Health Secretary James Hofschneider assured the community yesterday that the Department of Public Health has enough flu vaccines to treat all high-risk groups in the CNMI.
High-risk groups are individuals over the age of 60, those with diabetes, young children with lung problems and repeated asthma, and adults and children with significant heart conditions.
The DPH official made the statement in reaction to earlier reports saying that the CNMI lacks enough flu vaccines to treat its population of over 75,000.
Hofschneider, in a media release, said the public should not worry about the lack of flu vaccines because the CNMI has received enough medicine to cover all high-risk groups not only on Saipan but on Rota and Tinian as well.
He also said his office has initiated a CNMI-wide Flu Immunization Campaign targeting high risk children, children with special health care needs, senior citizens, especially those who are at the Man’Amko Center, Department of Public Safety staff, inmates, and health care workers.
He said the campaign was initiated to prevent a flu pandemic in the CNMI and to maximize efforts to stop the spread of the illness through vaccination of the high-risk individuals.
Hofschneider reported that, as of Feb. 3, 1,090 or 81 percent of the 1,350 available flu vaccinations were administered to the man’amko, Department of Corrections inmates and staff, children with special health care needs, high-risk patients at the Saipan, Tinian, and Rota health care centers, and health care workers on the islands.
Hofschneider also advised the public to take all proper precautions to avoid contracting the flu virus.
“To stop the spread of the flu, the public is advised to cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze,” he said.
He also added that washing hands frequently with soap and water and staying home if sick with fever and cough is the best option they could take.
