Fresenius Medical Care to offer seasonal influenza and H1N1 flu vaccines

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts a more severe flu season this year, people with chronic health conditions are especially at risk and can develop a more severe illness from any influenza infection, including the H1N1 virus.

Fresenius Medical Care North America, operator of the nation’s leading network of dialysis facilities, is preparing to help kidney failure patients and clinical staff by offering the seasonal influenza vaccine soon and H1N1 flu vaccines when available. The company’s goal is to offer to vaccinate 100 percent of its patients and health care workers.

About 20 million people in the United States have chronic kidney disease, and approximately 355,000 of them are on dialysis. Fresenius Medical Care will soon begin offering the standard seasonal flu vaccine, and is also working closely with the government on its H1N1 program to ensure that all eligible patients and staff are vaccinated as soon as the new vaccine is available. In the meantime, Fresenius Medical Care facilities are ordering the required vaccine and supplies needed.

“Dialysis patients are chronically ill, and if they get the flu they are at a greater risk of developing serious secondary illnesses, such as pneumonia,” said Carolyn Latham, VP of Clinical Quality and UltraCare^® at Fresenius Medical Care. “At Fresenius Medical Care, we want to ensure that our patients and staff stay as healthy as possible during the flu season, and vaccinations are an important step in that process.”

Fresenius Medical Care offers 5 tips to stay healthy during the flu season:

• Take the time to get vaccinated.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue if you cough or sneeze.
• If you or a loved one are sick with the flu, avoid contact with people.
• Avoid touching your eyes or your nose, as germs are spread easily.

All Fresenius Medical Care facilities are being provided with the most up-to-date information on both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines, and the company is closely following the CDC’s recommendations for both vaccination programs. In addition, Fresenius Medical Care has a large team of clinical and flu preparedness experts meeting frequently to ensure that plans are in place for any change in circumstances.

Fresenius Medical Care’s flu vaccination initiative demonstrates the company’s UltraCare^® mission of delivering excellent, patient-centered care through innovative programs, the latest technology, continuous quality improvement and a focus on superior customer service.

Dialysis is a life-sustaining process that cleans waste products from the blood, removes extra fluids, and controls the body’s chemistry when a person’s kidneys fail. Dialysis patients require treatment on an ongoing basis unless they receive a kidney transplant.