A recent Miami Herald article suggested that the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, may help boost Florida’s sluggish flu vaccine rate. The sunshine state currently has the lowest flu vaccine rate in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
One reason for the state’s low vaccination rate may be its climate. “People associate influenza with the winter months but the flu circulates year-round,” said Ted Ross, an influenza research and program director for the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida in Port St. Lucie “It’s not cold here and that may lead some people to think the flu isn’t as great of a threat.”
Robert Brooks, who served as the secretary of the Florida Department of Health (DOH) between 1999 and 20001 suggests the state might not be devoting enough resources to marketing the flu vaccine.
Florida DOH spokesman Nathan Dunn told the Miami Herald that improving the state’s flu vaccine rate “is a priority” and that outreach for a September 2014 campaign is ongoing at a state and county level.
The anti-vaccination movement and fears about Guillain-Barre flu shot injuries hinder many Americans each year from getting vaccinated.
Advocates believe that new Affordable Care Act, which entitles recipients to a free flu vaccine, will increase Florida’s vaccination rate, according to the Miami Herald.
The effects are already visible to those working in the healthcare industry. Pharmacist Robert Prieto noticed an increase in the number of customers getting flu shots at his Miami CVS since the Obamacare Health Insurance Marketplace opened in 2013.
The Affordable Healthcare Act is breaking down a barrier that has kept many individuals from getting a flu shot, including the most vulnerable members of society.
The Anapol Schwartz vaccine injury lawyers recommend following the advice of your healthcare provider regarding seasonal flu shots. Talk to your doctor to find out if you are eligible to receive a free flu shot.
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