The influenza vaccine is covered by Medicare.

In long-term care facilities, use of pharmacologic agents like amantidine or rimantidine is recommended even in an immunized population if three or more cases of influenza A are documented within a 72-hour period. This documentation is provided by the rapid influenza tests that are now commercially available.

Two new medications, Tamiflu and Relenza, are available for treating influenza and have the added benefit of efficacy against influenza B as well as A.

Copyright 2000