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BMH's Limited Supply of Flu Vaccine to Go to Its Direct Patient Care Employees and Butler County Nursing Homes

October 13, 2004 - (BUTLER, PA) – Because nine Butler County nursing homes have no flu vaccine and the population that lives in these homes is among the highest risk, Butler Memorial Hospital will use its limited supply to first vaccinate its own direct patient caregivers and then distribute the remaining supply to those nursing homes to vaccinate their skilled nursing patients.

“Because there will be a higher number of vulnerable patients than ever, direct patient caregivers must be immunized so that they do not infect patients in the hospital during flu season,” said Dr. Thomas McGill, an infectious disease specialist at BMH.

“Nursing home populations are high risk because of the age of many of the residents and because the population is congregated so closely together that if one person gets the flu, you have the potential for a flu epidemic within the nursing home,” McGill said. “Within the nursing homes, skilled nursing patients are the highest risk for complications because they are the most ill patients. Given that and the shortage of flu vaccine, this is the best approach for our community.”

There are more than 1,200 skilled nursing beds in the nine Butler County nursing homes with which the hospital has been in contact.

McGill is recommending that individuals who have not been able to get a flu shot but are considered to be a priority for vaccination contact their physician about any available flu vaccine or anti-viral drugs that can prevent the flu.

The FluMist vaccine, delivered through a nose spray, also may be available, but it is approved only for healthy, non-pregnant people between the ages of 5 and 49.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified the following priority groups for vaccination:
  • all children 6-23 months old;
  • adults 65 and older;
  • people 2-64 years old with underlying chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, or a weakened immune system;
  • all women who will be pregnant during the flu season;
  • residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
  • children 6 months to18 years old on chronic aspirin therapy;
  • healthcare workers involved in direct patient care; and
  • out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children under 6 months old.
Anti-viral medication can also help fight the flu once it has been contracted, but early recognition is the key.

“Recognizing the symptoms within 48 hours of infection and contacting your doctor for anti-viral medication are the most important steps in fighting the flu once you’ve contracted it,” McGill said.

Symptoms include sudden onset of:
  • intense body ache (the most clear indicator of flu versus a cold),
  • sore throat,
  • headache,
  • fever, and
  • cough.
“You will feel terrible,” McGill said. “You should be able to tell it from a cold because of how bad you’ll feel.” Other suggestions for avoiding contracting or spreading the flu include:
  • avoiding close contact with people who are sick;
  • covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough;
  • staying home and away from others if you do get sick; and
  • washing your hands thoroughly and often.
 More Information

For more information on this or other Butler Health System news, call Jason Snyder at 724-284-4222 or email Public Relations.

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