The 2020-2021 Influenza Season is Coming!



2020-2021 Influenza Season 09/09/2020 The 2020-2021 Influenza Season is Coming! What Arizona Vaccination Providers Need to Know While it’s not possible to say with certainty what will happen in the fall and winter, it is likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be spreading. Getting a flu vaccine will be even more important than ever. Flu vaccines will not prevent COVID-19, but they will reduce the burden of flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths on the health care system and conserve scarce medical resources for the care of people with COIVD-19. The CDC recommends that all people 6 months and older get a yearly flu vaccine.?Health care providers should:Administer influenza vaccine to everyone 6 months of age and olderMake sure to immunize people at high-risk for influenza complications, for example pregnant womenpeople with immunocompromised conditionsobese adultspeople with chronic conditions, including diabetes, asthma, heart disease, etc.Immunize now, and through the entire flu season, even into the new year and springFor the 2020-2021 flu season, providers may choose to administer any licensed, age-appropriate flu vaccine, with no preference for any one vaccine over another.? The Arizona Immunization Program provides VFC vaccine presentations which are now available for ordering through ASIIS. Please see our 2020-2021 AIPO VFC Pediatric Influenza Vaccine Selection Guide (pictured).Flu and COVID-19Influenza (Flu) and 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.To learn more about COVID-19, visit CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19)To learn more about flu, visit CDC ?Influenza (Flu)Additional Resources:ADHS COVID-19 Website and DashboardADHS Influenza (Flu) in ArizonaCDC Information for Health Care Professionals 2020-2021 Flu SeasonArizona Immunization Program Office150 N 18th Ave., Suite 120Phoenix, AZ 85007Phone: 602-364-3642Fax: 602-364-3276Important Guidance for Immunization 09/10/2020 Important Guidance for Immunization Providers? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? COVID-Exposed Persons Should Temporarily? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Forego Scheduled VaccinationsAlthough maintaining up-to-date vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential, people who have been identified as having been?exposed?to or diagnosed with COVID-19 should not be scheduled for vaccinations until their quarantine and/or isolation period is over.This comes from the CDC’s Interim?Guidance?for Immunization Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic, under “Vaccination of Persons with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19.”It says: “Routine vaccination should be deferred for persons with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, regardless of symptoms, until?criteria?have been met for them to discontinue isolation.” ??“[V]accination visits for these individuals should be postponed to avoid exposing healthcare personnel and other patients to the virus that causes COVID-19.”?While providers could hope these individuals will not come to your clinic while ill, you should follow your COVID-19 clinic screening process when making an appointment and inform the individual they should reschedule once their quarantine/isolation period has been completed.Arizona Immunization Program Office150 N 18th Ave., Suite 120Phoenix, AZ 85007Phone: 602-364-3630Fax: 602-364-3276 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download