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Beat the Bug -- Get the ShotHospital and local financial institutions invest in community |
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For Immediate Release
March 10th, 2005 Lincoln General - Brian Coyne, 318-254-2353 Community Trust -- Michelle Allen, 318-255-2222 Argent Financial Group -- Donna Bernard 318-251-5813 Ruston, LA -- 400 or more Lincoln Parish area residents were denied flu vaccinations in 2004 through Lincoln General Hospital’s flu vaccination efforts because of the national shortage of the vaccine, Lincoln General Hospital officials report. Lincoln Parish, along with the rest of the U.S., endured a shortage of flu vaccines this past flu season that played a part in the rise of flu cases reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Nationally, only 48 million flu vaccines were available for the 2004-2005 flu season -- half of what the CDC deemed necessary. Because of the shortage, LGH representatives were forced to put into action a "high-risk only" policy that allowed only those determined by the CDC to receive the flu vaccination. LGH personnel turned away at least 400 from its annual flu vaccination event. Lincoln Parish medical community report an increase of flu activity and Lincoln General Hospital has reported an increase of patient hospitalization due to the flu virus. For the 2005-2006 flu season, which is generally described as beginning in October, Lincoln General Hospital is joined by Community Trust Bank and Argent Financial Group to help guarantee the availability of the flu vaccination to all eligible persons in Lincoln Parish and surrounding parishes. "We want to make sure that residents of our community are aware of the benefits of vaccinations, that all the "at-risk" persons are vaccinated and that all those who want to receive vaccinations are not hindered by cost or availability," said Tom Stone, CEO of Lincoln General Hospital. The partnership between the three entities is important because funds and resources will be combined so all area residents are made aware of the flu vaccination efforts through a major media campaign. "It is important that the public is aware of the availability of the vaccinations and also that the $15 vaccination cost does not prohibit anyone from being vaccinated," said Drake Mills, President of Community Trust Bank. In addition to the vaccination efforts, the partnership will be educating the public on how to reduce the spread of the influenza virus in the workplace. "Protecting businesses from the negative economic impact of absenteeism due to flu infections is a major concern," said Byron Moore, Argent Financial Group President/Planning Group. In a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, flu immunization in healthy working adults results in 43 percent fewer days of sick leave due to upper respiratory illness and 44 percent fewer visits to a doctor's office for respiratory illness. (New England Journal of Medicine, 1995 Oct. 5; 333: 889-93). Another study found that vaccinating healthy working adults was on average cost saving, with mean savings of $13.66 (US) per person vaccinated. (Archives of Internal Medicine, 2001 March 12; Vol. 161 No. 5). "There are other tools businesses can use to avoid a major economic impact due to the flu which include encouraging those with the flu to stay home the entire duration of the illness, equipping the workplace with antibacterial soaps, and placing antibacterial hand sanitizers throughout the workplace," said Byron Moore of Argent Financial Group. The flu kills 36,000 people in the United States in an average year, the Center for Disease Control reports. The flu is a highly infectious disease of the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia. In Louisiana, 1,000 people die of flu or flu complications in an average year, according to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals reports that it is highly beneficial to the health of Louisiana residents and workers if the following groups receive the flu vaccination in 2005:
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