Governor Janet Napolitano today announced a campaign to increase the number of Arizonans vaccinated against pneumoccocal disease.
This serious disease can lead to infections of the lungs (pneumonia), the blood (bacteremia), and the covering of the brain (meningitis). Each year, pneumococcal disease causes thousands of hospitalization and deaths.
“Pneumonia and influenza account for about 1,200 deaths every year in Arizona, with most deaths occurring in seniors,” Governor Napolitano said after signing an Executive Order freeing up $100,000 from the state’s Health Crisis Fund to better target the vaccine to those who need it the most.
Governor Napolitano said increased immunization rates will help the state prepare for a possible flu pandemic by ensuring high-risk residents receive an extra layer of protection against the most frequent complications of influenza. Pneumococcal vaccine is for those 65 years or older, and for other individuals (2 through 64 years) with chronic health conditions.
"With this Executive Order, we are helping to ensure the health and safety of Arizona's most vulnerable populations, not just during the normal flu season, but also in the event of a flu pandemic,” Governor Napolitano said. "This is a very practical and important thing that we can do to protect Arizonans and to help prepare the state for the worst that Mother Nature has to offer us."
Health Crisis funds will be used by the Arizona Department of Health Services for outreach to health care providers, a media campaign and information sheets, posters, flyers and direct mail. All materials will be available in English and Spanish.
“Pneumococcal vaccine is readily available and highly effective,” said Arizona Department of Health Services Director Susan Gerard.
The following people should receive the pneumococcal vaccine:
- All adults 65 years of age and older.
- Anyone 2 years of age or older who has long-term health problems, such as health disease, lung disease, sickle cell disease or diabetes.
- Anyone 2 years of age or older who has a disease or condition that lowers the body’s resistance to infection, such as HIV or leukemia, or anyone who is taking an immunosuppressive drug, such as certain cancer treatments.
- Residents of long-term care facilities.
Individuals can receive the pneumococcal vaccine any time during the year, but unvaccinated seniors are encouraged to get vaccinated during the winters months when flu respiratory diseases are more common. The vaccine is available through physicians, some county health departments and health clinics. Information on where to find flu shots and pneumococcal vaccine is available at
www.cir.org.
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