The president of the Louisiana Tuberculosis Association has released a statement urging high risk groups to be vaccinated in I view of a predicted major outbreak of Asian influenza this
'all and winter.
[ Dr. Clay A. Waggenspack
sited the high'risk groups as:
1. All persons 45 years of age and older.
2. Those in the medical and health services, public safety, public utilities, transportation, education and communications field and industries or large institutions where absenteeism is of particular concern.
Other high risk groups, according to Dr. Waggenspack, include persons of all ages who
suffer from chronic debilitating disease, and pregnant women.
Debilitating diseases include! chronic cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal and metabolic disorders, in particular those with
rheumatic heart diseases, arteri-! osclerotic heart diseases and hy-l pertension, chronic asthma, dia-' betes mellitus, and Addison's disease.
Immunization should begin as soon as practicable after Sept. 11 and should be completed by mid-September, he said.
Dr. Waggenspack said he
understands major drug companies have stepped up their manufacture of the flu vaccine' so adequate supplies will be available.
