Capital BlueCross to Cover Administration Costs of H1N1 Vaccine for Fully-Insured...

Capital BlueCross to Cover Administration Costs of H1N1 Vaccine for
Fully-Insured Groups, Individuals This Flu Season

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital BlueCross announced today
that it will cover an administration fee for the H1N1 Flu vaccine for
fully-insured members and those with individual coverage during the upcoming
2009-2010 flu season. Self-funded groups may opt to have their coverage
customized to include this benefit.

A vaccine is expected to be available to the public in October. Various
clinical vaccine trials have begun, some under the direction of the National
Institutes of Health and others by manufacturers under contract with Health
and Human Services.

The H1N1 vaccine itself will be provided at no cost by the federal government.
Capital BlueCross is focusing on paying the administration fee to help
encourage members to seek vaccination for H1N1 for what is expected to be a
very active flu season.

Capital BlueCross advises that the H1N1 vaccine is in addition to the seasonal
flu vaccine, which is still important to have each year.

"With the threat of a possible local outbreak, it is even more important this
year for you to get a regular flu shot in addition to H1N1 protection," said
Dr. Christopher Rumpf, Capital BlueCross senior medical director.
"Unfortunately, many people skip the annual seasonal flu vaccine and might be
inclined to do the same for the H1N1 vaccine. Often this occurs because people
reason that they are young or healthy and therefore they could easily handle a
bad case of the flu. This same logic could be very harmful if applied to the
H1N1 virus."

Rumpf notes Capital BlueCross highly recommends that people exercise the
following tips provided by the Centers for Disease Control to help prevent the
spread of any flu:
-- Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand
cleaners
(especially after you cough or sneeze).
-- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
(throw
the tissue in the trash after using it). If you don't have a
tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
-- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth (germs can spread this way).
-- Try to avoid contact with sick people.

-- If you come down with a fever or respiratory infection, stay home from
work and avoid contact with others.

Also, if you are pregnant or have young children who become ill at home,
please note the following advice:
-- If you are pregnant and come down with a fever or respiratory illness,
contact your physician immediately for advice, as influenza can
increase
risk for both mothers and unborn children.

-- Don't give aspirin or products containing aspirin to any ill child
18 or younger (there is a potentially fatal condition called Reye
Syndrome that can occur this way).

The leading health insurer in its market, Capital BlueCross provides health
insurance coverage to nearly one million people in central Pennsylvania and
the Lehigh Valley. Capital BlueCross is committed to making health insurance
simple, offering easy to use health care and personal service at competitive
prices. The company has been serving its customers through all the stages of
their life for more than 70 years and employs more than 2,100 people.

Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association.
For more information, visit www.capbluecross.com.

SOURCE Capital BlueCross

Joseph Butera of Capital BlueCross, +1-717-541-6139,
Joe.Butera@capbluecross.com