Florida’s Medicaid program says it is providing free flu shots to as many as 75,000 additional pregnant women this season.
The state did away with fees late last week for 65,000 to 75,000 adult women enrolled in the Medicaid program, Michelle Dahnke, spokeswoman for the Agency for Health Care Administration, told Health News Florida.
Pregnant women are especially at risk this year for the H1N1 strain, also called “swine flu.” An unusual number of pregnant women are being hospitalized, according to newspapers around the state including the Palm Beach Post.
The vaccines, which are available through March 31, will protect pregnant women and their unborn children several months after their birth.
The change applies to women 21 years and older. Previously, fees were waived only for pregnant women ages 18 to 20.
As of Dec. 26, five Florida Counties had increased flu activity to moderate levels, while most other counties are experiencing a mild number of cases.
