STATE OF WASHINGTON
center31912900STATE OF WASHINGTONDEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICESAging and Long-Term Support AdministrationHome and Community Services Divisioncenter1769800HCS MANAGEMENT BULLETIN00HCS MANAGEMENT BULLETINPO Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504-5600H20-086 – InformationOctober 8, 2020TO:Home and Community Services (HCS) Division Regional Administrators Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) Regional AdministratorsArea Agency on Aging (AAA) Directors FROM:Bea Rector, Director, Home and Community Services Division429577541275Shannon Manion, Director of The Division of Field Services, DDASUBJECT:Seasonal Flu Information – Flu Vaccines for Adults and Children 2020-2021PURPOSE:To update case managers, nurses and social workers about the 2020-2021 flu information and vaccination recommendations.BACKGROUND:Many of the individuals we serve, their caregivers and families are at risk of the flu. 2019-2020 flu season preliminary estimates: 410,000-740,000 flu hospitalizations and 24,000-62,000 deaths. Influenza (Flu) and Coronavirus (COVID-19) are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with?influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics, but there are some key differences between the two.While more is learned every day, there is still a lot that is unknown about COVID-19 and the virus that causes it. This table??compares COVID-19 and flu, given the best available information to date.Much of the U.S. population is at high risk from serious flu complications either because of their age or because they have a medical condition like asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, or because they are pregnant. Over 30% of people 50-64 years of age have one or more underlying health conditions that put them at increased risk for serious complications from flu. All children younger than 5 years (especially those younger than 2 years), American Indians and Alaska Natives and all adults 65 years and older are also at increased risk of severe illness from influenza. CDC Says “Take 3” Actions to Fight Flu | CDCGet you and yourself vaccinated.Stop the spread.Use of antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.WHAT’S NEW, CHANGED, OR CLARIFIED:Influenza viruses are always changing and because of this, influenza vaccines are updated every year. The upcoming 2020-2021 season’s flu vaccine will protect against the three or four influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the season. CDC Frequently asked Flu Questions: 2020-2021 SeasonSeasonal Flu Vaccination The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. All nasal spray influenza (flu) vaccines for the 2020-2021 season are quadrivalent, meaning they will be made using four flu viruses: an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus and two influenza B viruses.Who should get vaccinated? Everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. It is especially important for some people to get vaccinated. Those people include the following:People who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu. This includes:People who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease.Pregnant women.People age 65 years and older.Some children 6 months through 8 years of age require two doses of flu vaccine for adequate protection from flu. Children in this age group getting vaccinated for the first time, and those who have only previously gotten one dose of vaccine, should get two doses of vaccine this season—spaced at least 4 weeks apart. Your child’s health care provider can tell you if your child needs two doses. More information about Flu and Young Children.People who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications.This includes household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease. A detailed list is available at Who Should and Should Not Get Vaccinated Against Influenza. A complete list of health and age factors that are known to increase a person’s risk of developing serious complications from flu is available at People Who Are at High Risk Flu.When Should I Get Vaccinated?CDC recommends that people get vaccinated against influenza as soon as 2020-2021 flu season vaccine becomes available in their community. Influenza seasons are unpredictable and can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. It is important to get a flu vaccine every year, even if you got vaccinated the season before and the viruses in the vaccine have not changed for the current season.It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.Everyday Preventive ActionsIn addition to getting the flu vaccination, you can take the following everyday preventive steps: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick with flu-like illness, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.Use of antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them:If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. Antiviral drugs fight influenza viruses in your body. Antibiotics fight against bacterial infections.Not everyone who has flu symptoms needs antiviral drugs. Your doctor will decide whether antiviral drugs are right for you.Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, an inhaled powder, or an intravenous solution) are not available over-the-counter.Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. Payment for the vaccineIt is best to get your family vaccinated for flu as soon as you can. Pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals follow new safety measures to give vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.In Washington, all children under age 19 get flu vaccines and other recommended vaccines at no cost.The provider may charge an administration fee to give the vaccine. You can ask them to waive this fee if you cannot afford it.Most insurance plans, including Medicare part B, cover the cost of flu vaccine for adults.Adults who do not have health insurance may be able to get the flu vaccine at no cost. Talk to your local health department for information about this program.Medicaid Transportation Brokers will provide transportation to physician’s offices and pharmacies providing flu vaccines if they are billing Medicaid and the requested pharmacies are approved providers. Here is the link to the NEMT website below where clients, case managers or providers can use the broker directory to get contact information for their county. For questions or concerns with the broker they can email the NEMT office directly at: HCANEMTTRANS@hca.. ?ACTION:Case Managers are encouraged to talk their clients during their routine conversations, about getting this vaccine as soon as they can and also inform them that it is covered by Medicaid.? RELATED REFERENCES:CDC More information about the FluHand washing: Click hereInformation for Health ProfessionalsSeasonal Flu Partner Resources Center | CDCFlu Vaccine FinderInfluenza Update section of the Department of Health (DOH) WebsiteFlu (print) resources: Population Schools and ChildcareFamily & Children Older AdultsHigh Risk Conditions Businesses/EmployersPregnant Women Health Care Workers Spanish Language American Indian & Alaska Natives More Flu Resources in other languages about healthy habits to prevent the flu ATTACHMENT(S):CONTACT(S): Angela Nottage, RN - Nursing and Performance Improvement Unit Manager(360) 725-2323Angela.nottage@dshs.Amanda McCleskey, RN - Fostering Well-Being Clinical Nurse Advisor(360) 725-2503Amanda.mccleskey@dshs.Autumn Wade, RN - Fostering Well-Being Lead Advisor(360) 725.3541Autumn.wade@dshs.Chani Hayes – Fostering Well-Being Unit Manager(360) 725-3540Chani.hayes@dshs.Doris Barret, RN – Nursing Services Unit Manager, DDA(360) 407-1558Doris.Barret@dshs. ................
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