H1N1 vaccination sessions at capacity

Posted by admin | Posted on 07-11-2010

Category : Pharmacy Students

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H1N1 vaccination sessions at capacity

As the supply for the H1N1, or swine flu, vaccine trickles in slower than expected, officials in Marion and Polk counties are scrambling to keep up with demand     Marion County Health Department began offering appointments Thursday for residents without health insurance to get the H1N1 vaccine. In less than a day, those appointments were filled.

In Polk County, health officials ran out of vaccine after distributing 1,085 doses during a community clinic hosted at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreall on Wednesday. About 250 people were turned away.

“Because we were one of the first (clinics), there was a very high demand, and it exceeded the number of doses,” public health manager Andy Walker said.

Public health departments are distributing the H1N1 vaccine to people in targeted priority groups: pregnant women, anyone in a household and caregivers for infants younger than six months; young children and adults from six months to 24 years old; and adults 25 to 64 who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of medical complications from the flu.

County health departments were directed to have 30 percent of allotted vaccine available to anyone in the priority groups without insurance or a medical provider; the other 70 percent is being distributed among school districts, health care providers and other agencies such as front-line emergency responders.

In Polk County, Walker said schools are reporting students out sick, but he’s keeping a closer eye on the severity of cases. So far, Polk County has had five cases that required hospitalization since September. Marion County has had 22 hospitalizations.

“It’s there, it’s present in the community,” Walker said. “People are getting the flu, but not everybody is getting sick from the flu — it’s not spreading aggressively.”

Marion County is distributing its vaccine on an appointment-only basis in order to streamline wait times and ensure priority groups are served first.

Anyone in a priority group without a medical provider or insurance can call Marion County Health Department to schedule an appointment. All other adults should contact their medical provider hursday was the first day the county opened its appointment line, and by mid-day the appointment slots were filled. Anyone wanting to make an appointment can call the health department beginning MondayMarion County health officials are not releasing specific number of doses available by appointment because of the constantly changing allotment.

“At this time, the vaccine shipments are unpredictable,” Marion County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers said. “Scheduling appointments based on the number of vaccine we have is the best way to ensure that the people who have an appointment will get vaccinated. Eventually there will be enough vaccine for everyone who wants it; however, it will take some time.”

Spokeswoman Tonya Johnson said officials expect enough vaccine eventually will arrive, but shipments were taking longer than anticipated.

“We want people to know that we’re doing everything we can to get the vaccine out,” Johnson said. “We appreciate their patience. It’s basically out of our control.”

Once people in the priority groups have had access to the vaccine, the Marion County Health Department will make the H1N1 vaccine available to the general public through local health clinics, pharmacies and at the health department.

Marion County officials still are working with Salem-Keizer School District to plan vaccination clinics.

Ruth Gelbrich, the director of student services, said because of the delay in vaccines, no clinics would be held within the schools until at least the week of Nov. 16.

Gelbrich said Salem-Keizer officials were close to preparing its first flu clinic at a high school and have it serve the area feeder schools, but cancelled that event because a lack of vaccine supply.

District officials will have daily attendance counts by next week to monitor absentee rates among students and staff — until now, attendance data from all schools was not collected on a daily basis, Gelbrich said.

“We’re hearing that the numbers are rising,” she said.

So far, no Salem-Keizer schools have considered closing, but absentee numbers are higher to date than a year ago, she said. Individual schools make the decision to close depending on a shortage of students or staff.

Flu toolkits filled with face masks, digital thermometers, sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer were distributed among many schools, and more were being prepared, Gelbrich said

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Emory Receives H1N1 Vaccine

Posted by admin | Posted on 06-09-2010

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Emory Receives H1N1 Vaccine

Emory received a limited supply of the H1N1 vaccine last week and will administer it to priority groups such as pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions this week, according to Executive Director of Student Health Services Michael Huey.

The federal government made the vaccine available in early October, and Emory University and Emory Healthcare applied to be a distribution site.
Both were approved by the Georgia Division of Public Health to administer the H1N1 vaccine.

Huey said the first batch of vaccinations is only a fraction of the amount the University will need to immunize against the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

The University will receive more doses of the vaccine as the federal government continues to manufacture it, Huey said.

“We are hopeful this is a short timeline, but we have to be realistic in expecting it will take time for the vaccine to be manufactured in high enough quantities to be available for young adults without chronic illnesses,” Huey said. “We are anxious for it to become increasingly available.”
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said those at high risk for serious medical complications should be vaccinated first.
People who fall in this category include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than six months of age, health-care and emergency medical services personnel who engage in direct patient contact, children six months to four years of age and children five years to 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions, according to a Universitywide e-mail sent out by Alexander Isakov, executive director of Critical Event Preparedness and Response.

Huey said the University will wait for further recommendations from the CDC and more shipments of the vaccination before making the vaccine available to all students and faculty.

This week, the vaccine will be administered to priority group members in clinics set up in the Dobbs University Center (DUC).

Emory students under the age of 17, however, will be vaccinated at Student Health Services because their health consent forms are located there, Huey said.
The shots are free to Emory students insured by the Emory Student Health Insurance Plan who show their EmoryCard and Aetna Student Health Insurance card and for Emory employees who work 20 or more hours a week and present their Emory faculty or staff identification card and personal health insurance card.

The vaccine administration fee is for Emory students, faculty and staff that do not fall in the above categories.

Huey said Emory will not vaccinate young children, although they do fall in the priority groups outlined by the CDC.

Young children can be vaccinated at other locations such as health-care provider offices, schools and pharmacies, according to the CDC’s website.

According to Heather Zesiger, director of health education and promotion for Student Health Services, the vaccine will help slow the spread of the H1N1 virus on campus.

“By vaccinating the priority groups first, hopefully we will be able to prevent serious cases among those who are most vulnerable,” Zesiger said. “If it becomes available for everyone, and if as many students, staff and faculty get vaccinated as possible, then we can greatly reduce the spread of the illness.”

The H1N1 outbreak, which began in April 2009, will continue to spread at Emory for several more weeks, Zesiger said.

Student Health Services can not test directly for the H1N1 virus, but has been able to test for Influenza A and thus detect presumptive cases of the virus.

Those thought to have the H1N1 virus are encouraged to self-isolate in Turman South Residence Hall, where those affected have stayed this fall, until their fevers subside for 24 hours.

The CDC stated on its website that those with the virus should stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to get medical care.

Huey emphasized that Emory’s H1N1 vaccination program is voluntary, but because there have been more than 500 presumptive cases of H1N1 on campus thus far this semester, he encourages students, faculty and staff to get the H1N1 vaccination, in addition to the seasonal flu shot.

“You’ll wish you were vaccinated, whether it is for the seasonal flu or the H1N1 virus,” Huey said.

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H1N1 vaccine efforts expanding as more vaccine comes to state

Posted by admin | Posted on 28-08-2010

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H1N1 vaccine efforts expanding as more vaccine comes to state

Virginia health officials are opening up H1N1 vaccinations to more people, targeting patients being discharged from hospitals and releasing nasal mist vaccine to retail pharmacies in hopes of reaching more 19-24-year-olds.

Flulike-illness visits to emergency rooms and urgent-care centers remain low statewide, at about 3 percent of all visits, compared with 15 percent about a month ago.

“I am convinced [vaccine] is part of the reason we are seeing a significant downward trend in the incidence of disease,” Dr. Donald Stern, the Richmond City Health District director, said yesterday as he helped launch a vaccination campaign in city public-housing developments.

Virginia has been allocated more than 2 million doses of flu vaccine, Virginia’s health commissioner, Dr. Karen Remley, said yesterday.

Remley called the state vaccination campaign an “overwhelming success,” with vaccine reaching priority groups, including pregnant women and young children.

“We know that at least a quarter of the children in the state have been vaccinated,” Remley said.

“When you think about over a short period of time, that’s incredible,” she said, adding that vaccine is being delivered to providers every day.

In an effort to get more vaccine to more people, she is encouraging hospitals to offer the vaccine to patients being discharged as part of standing orders.

And while many college students have been vaccinated, there are many young people who are not in school but out working.

“We know that young adults . . . tend to be less engaged in seeing doctors on a regular basis. That is one of the reasons we are going to push that nasal mist out into pharmacies,” Remley said.

The nasal mist version of the H1N1 vaccine is made with a live, weakened virus and is recommended for healthy, nonpregnant people ages 2-49. Remley said it will be shipped to retail pharmacies starting next week. While the vaccine is free, pharmacies can charge a fee of up to a fee to administer it. Many insurance companies have announced they will cover the cost.

“You can always come to the health department,” Remley said. “In the health department, the vaccine will always be free.”

Also, parents with young children need to be thinking about getting the second dose of vaccine recommended for children age 9 and younger. Many schools will be having a second round of vaccine clinics, but children also can get the shot at health departments and doctors’ offices, she said.

While the emphasis is still on getting priority groups vaccinated, anyone who wants a flu shot can request one at health departments.

Laboratory tests show all of the influenza circulating in the community is H1N1, or swine flu, Remley said. In Virginia, H1N1 flu has been blamed for 35 deaths, including of three children.

Webcast Training: Protecting Employees in H1N1 Flu Pandemic

Posted by admin | Posted on 21-06-2010

Category : Region III

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Webcast Training: Protecting Employees in H1N1 Flu Pandemic

Ensuring continuity – even survival – of your small business in the event the H1N1 flu pandemic spirals “out of control” is not a matter to be taken lightly.The items to be addressed total up to a daunting list. Ignoring the problem is no longer a viable option. But there is a new, viable and FREE option for getting businesses educated and prepared.

A new training webcast for business leaders: “Planning and Response to the H1N1 Flu Pandemic” is a great place to start. This hourlong webcast, produced along the lines of a “20/20 newscast,” explains in simple language what business leaders need to know now.

This valuable instructional webcast is comprised of segments, or “chapters”, that address:
1. How to protect employees from contamination.
2. How to secure your inputs to production – materials, supplier services, funding – when those entities are experiencing business disruption.
3. How to cross-train employees for continued functioning of key positions
4. How to establish satellite stocks of equipment and supplies accessible to healthy employees to keep them functioning away from an “unhealthy” headquarters.
5. How to establish, communicate and enforce sensible “sick policies.”

“Flu Pandemic: Crisis and Response” has been in production for over a year – well before H1N1 had ever been heard of. It is a joint production of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the All Hazards Training Center of the University of Findlay (Ohio). It was shown live on June 11, 2009 – the very day the World Health Organization declared H1N1 a worldwide pandemic – and now is available as a free on-demand training webcast. Accompanying the video instruction is a set of downloadable useful documents, including a planning template you can use to develop a response plan for your own business. You can stop/start/replay any portion of the webcast and even submit questions for the experts at the University, who will answer you via e-mail.

This webcast training tool is available 24/7 and it’s free, so “tune in” soon and get your team focused on an H1N1 flu response plan that will help ensure the ongoing continuity of your business.

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Pharmacies in the area poised to get H1N1 shot

Posted by admin | Posted on 19-02-2009

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Pharmacies in the area poised to get H1N1 shot

Doses of the H1N1 vaccine should be available at pharmacies around the state for use by the general public this week – several days earlier than previously expected.

The Indiana Department of Health announced Monday that it ordered 60,000 doses of the vaccine for pharmacies last week. Some pharmacies could make those doses available this week.

State officials previously planned to provide the vaccine to the general public the week of Dec. 20.

The state intended to send doses directly to retail pharmacies to give Hoosiers easier access to the vaccine, which protects against the H1N1 strain of the flu virus.

A department spokeswoman said details about which pharmacies will be offering the vaccine will be released Thursday.

State health commissioner Dr. Judy Monroe previously said that large chains like Walgreens, CVS and Kroger are registered with the state to provide the vaccinations.

Unlike free public clinics held by county health departments, anyone receiving the doses from a retail pharmacy will likely have to pay an administration fee. The fee covers the pharmacist injecting the vaccine into the arm or spraying the vaccine into the nose.

By law, pharmacies cannot charge more than the Medicare reimbursement rate of .59. Some pharmacies plan to charge a flat administration fee, Monroe said, and private insurance may also cover the cost of the vaccine.

Until now, the state has urged county health departments to focus on vaccinating Hoosiers considered at high risk of developing the H1N1 flu. Those groups include people younger than 24 ; pregnant women; adults with chronic health conditions, plus health care and emergency medical workers.

Some smaller counties across the state, such as Noble and Steuben, have begun to offer the vaccine to the general public, Monroe said last week.

Allen County expanded its eligibility to include adults younger than 64 with or without chronic health conditions for its clinics scheduled through Friday.

As schools and colleges wrap up for the holidays, the state has focused its vaccination efforts on college students and sent thousands of doses to campuses to vaccinate students.

In recent weeks, the majority of people complaining of flu symptoms to doctors’ offices around the state were children and young adults.

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How Can A Business Prepare for H1N1?

Posted by admin | Posted on 02-02-2009

Category : Region III

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How Can A Business Prepare for H1N1?

In response to the anticipated resurgence of the H1N1 virus, The University of Findlay’s All Hazards Training Center and OSHA joined forces to air a free webcast on H1N1 Pandemic preparation and response. This valuable, informative webcast is now available for viewing on-demand by visiting the Pandemic:Crisis and Preparation web site.

Developed under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Susan Harwood Training Grant program, “Pandemic: Crisis and Preparation” offers scenarios, planning tools and expert advice aimed squarely at helping leaders of small-to-medium size businesses learn how to prepare for and respond to a serious, long-term health pandemic. By listening to panel discussions of public health experts and portrayals of how different businesses prepared (or failed to prepare) to a hypothetical pandemic, viewers will learn how to:

- stock employee supplies off-site to facilitate service independence,

- ensure continuity of supply of key business inputs (materials, services, etc.,

- cross-train employees to assure key functions remain staffed,

- develop an effective employee “sick” policy,

- safeguard employees from H1N1 contamination,

- develop a Pandemic Response Plan appropriate to their business

The webcast is free and you don’t even have to register to view it. With the Centers for Disease Control predicting a serious resurgence of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus this winter, can you really afford not to tune in? Be proative and visit www.fluwebcast.com.

Since 2005, the University of Findlay has been developing and producing ALERT live interactive training webcasts to supplement their full curriculum of training programs for safety, health, environmental and emergency response professionals. Viewer feedback has shown that ALERT webcasts are highly effective taining programs – espcially considring they are free of charge. All you need to participate in ALERT webcasts like “Pandemic: Crisis and Preparation”is a PC with speakers and Internet access.