Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 2, 1 Pepeluali 2006 — Don't forget TCOYD, and it's not too late for flu shot [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Don't forget TCOYD, and it's not too late for flu shot

Dante Keala Carpenter TrustEE, O'ahu

Aloha mai kākou. One last reminder to my fellow diabetics and caregivers: the "Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) - Conference & Heahh Fair" is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Hawai'i Convention Center in Honolulu and Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Kaunakakai Senior Center on Moloka'i. For more information, please eall my office at 594-1854. As I stated on 'Ōlelo Community Television: from my OHA trustee allowanee, 1*11 pay the TCOYD conference fee for the first 100 Hawaiians who eall my office. Check out OHA's 'Ōlelo roundtable production on the topic of diabetes scheduled for lan. 25 and Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. on ehannel 53. Did you get your influenza ("flu") shot? Many physicians ran out of the flu vaccine last year but now have it available. Let me share the following excerpts from a flyer put out by the Department of Heakh and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Nahonal Immunization Program: Why get vaccinated? Influenza is a very contagious disease. It is caused by the influenza virus, whieh spreads from infected persons to the nose or throat of others. Anyone ean get inlluenza. For most people, it lasts only a few days. It ean cause fever, sore throat, chills, fatigue, cough, headache and muscle aches. Influenza ean lead to pneumonia and ean be dangerous for people with heart or breathing conditions. Influenza vaccine ean prevent influenza. Who shoidd get inactivated influenza vaccine? There are two types of influenza vaccine: 1) an inactivated (killed) vaccine, given as a shot, has been used in the United States for many years; and 2) a live, weakened vaccine was licensed in 2003. It is sprayed into the nostrils. Influenza viruses are constantly changing. Influenza vaccines are updated every year, and an annual vaccination is recommended. For most people influenza vaccine prevents serious illness caused by the influenza virus.

It will not prevent "influenza-like" illnesses caused by other viruses. It takes about two weeks for protection to develop after the shot, and protection ean last up to a year. Influenza vaccine ean be given to people six months of age and older. It is recommended for people who are at risk of serious influenza or its complications and for people who ean spread influenza to those at high risk. People at high risk for eomplieations are: All children 6-23 months of age. People 65 years of age and older. Residents of long-term care facilities housing persons with chronic medical eonditions. People who have long-term heahh problems with: heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease and metabolic disease, such as diabetes, asthma, anemia and other blood disorders. People with certain conditions that ean cause breathing problems. People whh a weakened inimune system. People 6 months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment. Women who will be pregnant during the flu season. When should I get influenza vaccine? The best time to get influenza vaccine is in October or November. Influenza season usually peaks in February, but it ean peak any time from November through May. So getting the vaccine in December, or even later ean be beneficial in most years. Most people need one flu shot eaeh year. What are the risksfrom inactivated influenz,a vaccine? A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. You may experience the following mild problems: soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, fever and aches. These types of problems usually begin soon after the shot and last one to two days. It's not too late to contact your physician or heakh center to get your flu shot. Mark your 2006 calendars for the next flu season shot in October, if you've already got this season's shot. Hopefully, the flu bug will pass you by! As always, my staff and I invite your comments on the above or any other eoncerns within our purview. My OHA access numbers are: phone: 594-1854, fax: 5940210 and e-mail address: dantec@oha.org. Mālama pono, a hui hou. S

LEO 'ELELE • TRUSTEE MESSAGES