What's new in the flu war?

  • Published
  • By Nancy Driscoll
  • 452 AMW Public Health Office
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  A STATE OF EMERGENCY 

President Obama's declaration of an "H1N1 National Emergency" Oct. 24 was not because the H1N1 virus has changed. In fact the very good news is that it has not become more virulent, has not become resistant to the Tamiflu and Relenza, and has not become more lethal or changed its demographic patterns of illness. 

National emergency declaration is an administrative and legal tool of the Federal Government--in this case for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)-- to waive some legal requirements and gives medical facilities the ability to set up alternate care sites, modify patient triage protocols, alter patient transfer procedures and employ other actions required in emergency relief operations. 

Medical facilities must still request specific permission through a 'petition process to HHS,' as well as addressing any applicable state laws. The H1N1 emergency declaration allows medical facilities to begin the petitioning process now, so they can fully implement their Pandemic Response Plans, if the level of illness in their respective communities exceeds their inpatient and outpatient capabilities. 

Think back to April and May '09, when most states declared a 'Public Health Emergency' which allowed them to request support from the federal government; in turn allowing the Feds to release supplies (Tamiflu, Relenza, respirators, etc.) from the Strategic National Stockpile and deliver the supplies to each state. This time, the federal government declared a national emergency which will permit states and the U.S. health care system to continue to be very proactive in responding to the H1N1 flu pandemic. 

You may be wondering where all the promised flu vaccines are. Intranasal and injection, seasonal and H1N1: they're here and more is coming. 

THE SCOOP ON VACCINES 

The seasonal flu vaccine, which ships in increments, is in short supply in some locations and plentiful in others. The states, counties and cities are redistributing their supplies. Check frequently with your own health care providers, local Public Health Clinics and your local pharmacies. Most of the local media are posting information on flu clinic locations on their Websites too. Again ... the good news is the number of people who have received the seasonal flu vaccine is at a level usually seen in November, not in September and October. 

In late August and early September, we began hearing that the initial supply of H1N1 vaccine was not going to be as much as initially projected. The H1N1 virus was not reproducing /growing as anticipated; its rate of reproduction was slower than that of the seasonal flu viruses. We were told the 150 million doses were expected in mid-to-late October 2009 was going to be more like 50 million. As of Oct. 22, 33 million doses had been shipped to every state, pro-rated by population. 

Every week, the state public health departments will get additional doses of the H1N1 vaccine to distribute, as well as other registered sites, such as doctors' offices, outpatient clinics and pharmacies. 

For the H1N1 vaccines, the priority groups who will get it first are: pregnant women; people who live/care for children younger than 6 months; healthcare and emergency medical services personnel; persons between 6 months and 24 years; and those 25 to 64 years at high risk due to chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. 

For DoD uniformed personnel, the H1N1 priorities are grouped into three levels. Group 1: deployed forces, ships afloat, healthcare providers doing high risk procedures, training sites and academies. Group 2: mission essential/critical personnel. Group : all other military personnel. 

For more information, visit the California Department of Public Health Website at: www.cdph.ca.gov. By clicking on the H1N1 link, then 'local health departments,' you will be able to locate your county public health department for details, such as flu vaccine sites.