Date: October 30, 2009
Contact: Dave Cox, 360-772-6352
Skamania Vaccine Information
Skamania County Community Health is working in partnership with other Southwest Washington health jurisdictions to respond to H1N1 influenza in our communities. We have been working with our schools and childcare centers to administer vaccine to school age and pre-school children. Pregnant women, healthcare and EMS workers have been vaccinated as well. Because we have received a very limited amount of vaccine to date, we are currently providing vaccine to the following groups only:
· Pregnant women
· Healthcare workers with direct patient contact
· Children ages 6 months to 19 years
· Parents and caregivers of children younger than 6 months old.
By vaccinating these groups first, public health protects those at greatest risk while reducing the spread of H1N1 into the community. As supplies increase, those next in line to receive the vaccine are people ages 25 through 64 with chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. At the same time, we will also make vaccine available for everyone ages 6 months through age 24.
People who are 65 and older are at a lower risk of getting H1N1 flu than the other groups. We anticipate that in the next few months an adequate supply of the vaccine will be available for every person in our county.
If you or your child has the flu, it is very likely that it is H1N1 influenza. Second doses of H1N1 vaccine are required for children ages nine and under after 28 days from their initial dose.
To avoid spreading the flu, please stay at home until any fever is gone for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines. Most people do not need a lab test to confirm H1N1 influenza. Testing is necessary only when people are sick enough to be hospitalized.
Unless your case of flu was officially confirmed by a laboratory test as H1N1 2009, there is no way to be sure you are protected and you should get both the H1N1 vaccine and seasonal flu vaccine. If you did have confirmed H1N1, you are still vulnerable to seasonal flu and you should get the seasonal flu vaccine.
For more information visit www.flunewsswashington.org, www.skamaniacounty.org or call Skamania County Community Health at 509- 427-3881 or Region IV Public Health at 1-877-510-2772.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Press Release October 21, 2009
NEWS RELEASE
October 21, 2009
Contact: Dave Cox, PIO: 360-772-6352
Priority distribution of H1N1 vaccine continues
Public health officials in Southwest Washington are working to distribute the H1N1 flu vaccine to clinics and hospitals as rapidly as the supply is made available for distribution.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had estimated that there would be a distribution of 40 million doses nationwide by October 30. They are now estimating this figure to be 29 million because of manufacturing issues.
Washington State Region 4, comprising Clark, Skamania, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties and the Cowlitz Tribe, has a total population of more than 530,000 people but has only received about 14,500 doses of H1N1 vaccine to date. This is enough vaccine for less than 3 percent of the population. Given the small initial shipments, health officials have determined that the best way to protect the public is to target vaccination efforts toward the most vulnerable populations.
Today, Region IV placed an order for 4,900 doses, the maximum amount allocated by the state for the region. Also today, Public Health delivered 550 doses of injectable H1N1 vaccine to pediatricians in the region to give to high-risk children. Tomorrow an additional 1500 doses of injectable H1N1 vaccine and 600 doses of H1N1 nasal mist will be provided to medical practices for high-risk children and health care providers.
Early vaccinations will be prioritized for pregnant women because they are at high risk of complications from H1N1; healthcare workers because they can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients and also because increased absenteeism among healthcare professionals could reduce healthcare system
capacity; children ages 6 months to 19 years in congregate settings, which
increases the likelihood of disease spread; and parents and caregivers of children younger than 6 months, so they don’t pass the virus to their infants.
Due to the current shortage, H1N1 vaccine will be distributed only to these groups. It is anticipated that over time an adequate supply of the vaccine will be available for every person in the four-county area. For more information, visit www.flunewsswwashington.org or call 1-877-510-2772.
October 21, 2009
Contact: Dave Cox, PIO: 360-772-6352
Priority distribution of H1N1 vaccine continues
Public health officials in Southwest Washington are working to distribute the H1N1 flu vaccine to clinics and hospitals as rapidly as the supply is made available for distribution.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had estimated that there would be a distribution of 40 million doses nationwide by October 30. They are now estimating this figure to be 29 million because of manufacturing issues.
Washington State Region 4, comprising Clark, Skamania, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties and the Cowlitz Tribe, has a total population of more than 530,000 people but has only received about 14,500 doses of H1N1 vaccine to date. This is enough vaccine for less than 3 percent of the population. Given the small initial shipments, health officials have determined that the best way to protect the public is to target vaccination efforts toward the most vulnerable populations.
Today, Region IV placed an order for 4,900 doses, the maximum amount allocated by the state for the region. Also today, Public Health delivered 550 doses of injectable H1N1 vaccine to pediatricians in the region to give to high-risk children. Tomorrow an additional 1500 doses of injectable H1N1 vaccine and 600 doses of H1N1 nasal mist will be provided to medical practices for high-risk children and health care providers.
Early vaccinations will be prioritized for pregnant women because they are at high risk of complications from H1N1; healthcare workers because they can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients and also because increased absenteeism among healthcare professionals could reduce healthcare system
capacity; children ages 6 months to 19 years in congregate settings, which
increases the likelihood of disease spread; and parents and caregivers of children younger than 6 months, so they don’t pass the virus to their infants.
Due to the current shortage, H1N1 vaccine will be distributed only to these groups. It is anticipated that over time an adequate supply of the vaccine will be available for every person in the four-county area. For more information, visit www.flunewsswwashington.org or call 1-877-510-2772.
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