Health officials working with first shipments of H1N1 vaccine
October 23, 2009
Local health officials are continuing to monitor the shipments of H1N1 vaccine to the area, noting that the first vaccines have begun to arrive in Jasper County and Joplin but in small quantities. Dan Pekarek, Director of the Joplin City Health Department, and Tony Moehr, Administrator of the Jasper County Health Department, want residents to know that as these vaccines arrive, they are being distributed first to medical providers serving the high priority population that include:
• pregnant women,
• persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers),
• health-care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients,
• children aged 6 months--4 years, and
• children and adolescents aged 5--18 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.
Persons who are in one of the priority groups should contact their medical provider to check on the availability of vaccine. Current data continue to show that older individuals have less risk of infection than children or young adults.
“Although residents may be hearing information about the H1N1 vaccine shipments through the national news media, we encourage our residents to be patient, and continue to practice the preventative measures to help protect themselves and others from this flu, as well as the seasonal flu,” said Pekarek.
Pekarek also noted that the City of Joplin and Jasper County Health Departments have coordinated with the medical providers in the area to reach the identified target groups more susceptible to the virus.
“Because we have a multitude of medical providers that provide services to the initial high risk populations daily, the local vaccine allocations are being sent to them first to try and meet their needs,” he said. “More rural counties around us, with fewer medical providers, do not have that issue, and their health departments are the primary flu vaccine providers.”
Shipments of the vaccination to this area will continue, but local health officials do not have control of the quantities they receive. As more vaccines become available and the demand for the initial target groups has been met at the local level, priority groups will be gradually relaxed to include other individuals. As this occurs, available public clinics will be announced in the local media.
Steps you can take to protect your health until vaccines are available include:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without taking fever-reducing medicine, except to get medical care or for other necessities.
• Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
Testing and Tracking of Influenza-like illnesses (ILI) H1N1, a new influenza virus that was first detected in the United States in April 2009, is spread from person-to-person worldwide in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. By June 19, 2009, all 50 states in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have reported the novel H1N1 infection.
Different states are using different tracking procedures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza. Currently, Missouri is not recommending routine testing unlike some other states which means that less reported confirmed cases may be seen in Missouri. However, this does not mean that Missouri has fewer cases than those states doing routine testing. The presence of the 2009 H1N1 influenza is evident within most communities. As a result, reports of confirmed 2009 H1N1 cases in Jasper County and Joplin should not be interpreted as an initial emergence of 2009 H1N1 in the community.
During this season, CDC recommends that influenza diagnostic testing be done to:
• Patients hospitalized with suspected flu
• People such as pregnant women or people with weakened immune systems, for whom a diagnosis of flu will help their doctor, make decisions about their care.
• Those that health care providers recommend to be tested based on clinical judgment.
Emergency departments’(ED) tracking of Influenza-like illnesses (ILI) throughout Missouri indicates that there is a significant increase in the numbers of emergency room visits due to influenza-like illness, especially since August 29, 2009 compared to other influenza seasons. In Jasper County and Joplin, the same increase in Influenza-like illnesses has been reported in the local emergency departments. The local tracking/surveillance data also shows that there is a dramatic increase in Influenza- like illnesses since September, especially among those aged 5 to 17 years. This trend is consistent with state and national trends.
Symptoms
Most people with uncomplicated 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection generally experience similar symptoms like seasonal influenza that includes the abrupt onset of fever, cough, sore throat, sore muscles, arthritis-like pain, chills, headache and fatigue. Vomiting and diarrhea have been reported more often with 2009 H1N1 influenza than with seasonal influenza. National data shows that the vast majority of individuals becoming ill with flu recently are recovering without specific medical treatment or complications within a few days. However, those with underlying medical problems may experience further complications with the flu.
For more information call the Joplin Health Department at 417-623-6122 or the Jasper County Health Department at 417-358-3111 or visit www.fightthefluMO.com.
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