2009 News
September 2, 2009
County Planning Efforts for H1N1 Underway
Cover your sneeze or cough. Wash your hands often. Stay home if you’re sick, until 24 hours after your fever breaks. Whether we are talking about seasonal flu or H1N1, the advice from Bucks County Health Department (BCHD) Director David Damsker, MD, MPH, is the same. This year, health officials will be making provisions for both types of flu strains. Although the symptoms are similar (fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting), vaccinations for the two types of flu will be handled differently.
Seasonal flu
Damsker announced at today’s commissioners’ meeting that for the fourth consecutive year, the county will offer seasonal flu vaccines at its pandemic flu drill. The 2009 event will be held Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Four locations will be announced in the coming weeks. Generally, those nine years old and older are eligible to receive a free flu shot. You are not eligible if you have a severe egg allergy (cannot eat any egg products) or if you have a history of Guillan-Barre Syndrome.
Dr. Damsker encourages all those eligible to get a seasonal flu shot this year and every year. For those unable to make the flu drill on October 17, see your primary care physician, go to your local grocery store or pharmacy, or go to www.findaflushot.com to locate the nearest clinic.
H1N1
There is currently no vaccine available for H1N1. However, when it becomes available, the national strategy for immunization against H1N1 calls for a centralized registry where doctors will request doses for their patients. The PA registry opened yesterday Bucks Countians should contact their primary care physician to schedule their shots.
It is expected that limited doses will be on hand initially, before more are produced. Those identified by the CDC as belonging to priority groups will receive vaccine first from their program or provider.
Schools will also be a place where children can receive shots. The BCHD is working with the county’s 13 school districts to plan for these clinics, and is assisting districts in communicating useful information to teachers and parents.
Priority groups include:
- pregnant women
- people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
- health care and emergency medical services personnel
- persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age
- people from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
Dr. Damsker notes that several underlying conditions make the flu more dangerous for certain populations. Examples include those with respiratory conditions, those who are immune-suppressed, those with heart disease, pregnant women and obese individuals. His advice for those experiencing flu-like symptoms – check with your doctor.
In addition to communicating with physicians and schools, officials from the BCHD have also been working with infection preventionists at area hospitals to review protocols. Plans for minimizing impact to the county’s 2,600 employees are also underway.
In order to make information available in a timely fashion, a hotline has been set up for the public. Callers can dial 877-477-4492 for updates, and can leave a message if they would like their call returned. Bucks Countians can also visit www.flu.gov for a wealth of information for individuals, businesses, schools, day care facilities and more.
To register for emergency alerts to your cell phone, email or PDA, go to www.ReadyNotifyPA.org.