Geisinger has solid supply of flu vaccine this year

DANVILLE- Geisinger Health System expects to have enough supplies of flu vaccine to meet all of its patients’ needs for the coming season.

High risk patients are starting to receive flu shots this week, with shots available for the rest of the public later in the month, said Dean Parry, R.Ph, Geisinger's director of clinical pharmacy programs. The flu shots are available at Geisinger’s three hospitals and 38 community practice sites.

Geisinger patients who need flu shots this coming fall and winter should be able to receive one, Parry said.

Annual vaccination against influenza is recommended for: all people, including school-aged children, who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with the flue or of transmitting influenza to others; all children aged 6 to 59 months; all people who are 50 or above; children and adolescents (ages 6 months to 18 years) receiving long-term aspirin therapy who therefore might be at risk for Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection; women who will be pregnant during the flu season; adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, hematological or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus); adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus); adults and children who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders) that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or that can increase the risk for aspiration.