Flu Crew
Update: Due to the flu vaccine shortage, the Vaccinate and Vote campaign will be cancelled for 2004. We do plan to coordinate the Vaccinate and Vote program again in 2005.
The Flu Crew of the Community Health Forum was formed in 1998 to increase the number and percentage of population in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County who receive the influenza vaccine. We also wanted to educate the public on influenza vaccine and dispel the many myths that accompany this vaccination. This was accomplished by informing the medical professionals about the committee and its initiatives, creating mass media campaigns and surveying physicians, AMC, and the Health Department to assess the numbers of vaccine delivered.
In the Flu season of 1998/1999, 12,546 (12.5%) vaccines were given. In 1999/2000 we saw an increase in the amount of vaccine administered, up to 19,857 (19.8%). The 2000/2001 season saw a decrease in vaccinations given, down to 16,167 (16.2%). This was due to a vaccine shortage for everyone. The next year, 2001/2002, we saw another increase up to 23,706 (23.7%). This year the vaccine was scarce at first, but by mid season, we had plenty. In the next season, 2002/2003, the data was not collected from the hospital or physician offices, resulting in incomplete numbers.
Up until that time, the three groups: AMC, Health Department and the individual doctor offices, worked separately to provide vaccine to the community. In the year 2003/2004, through the Flu Crew committee, we initiated a new program that had been piloted in Hopewell, Virginia, called Vaccinate and Vote. Here the Flu Crew, comprised of AMC hospital employees and health department employees, worked together to vaccinate people at 12 voting sites on Election Day for 4 hours in both the morning and evening hours. This took an extensive work force in both clerical and nursing staff, as well as collaboration with the voter registrars, secretary of the boards, and contact people at the voting sites. In that year, 31,895 vaccines were administered, with a 29% rate based on the population of 110,000.
In the year 2005, we have plans to add two more county voting sites and to give vaccines for 12 hours at each site. We also would like to further educate the public on the importance of being vaccinated against influenza.
Last updated: Nov. 1, 2004