H1N1 vaccines by appointment

I just got this via e-mail from the Health Department:

Hillsborough-- Orange County residents can now call 1-888-252-3001 to reach a scheduler to make an H1N1 vaccine appointment. Utilizing H1N1 implementation funds, appointment scheduling was outsourced to Global Response to set up a professional appointment call center for greater public access to appointments.

Operators screen callers according to the Centers for Disease Control priority group guidelines and have up to ten lines active from 8:00am-5:00pm Monday - Friday. Callers will be offered appointments at the health department's Chapel Hill or Hillsborough clinic locations. Global Response will post a message for callers once all appointments are full, but will re-open as vaccine supplies are replenished.

Global Response is an appointment service only, for medically related questions the public can call the health department's H1N1 Nurse at 919-605-2051 or post an email to flu@co.orange.nc.us.

Currently, half-day H1N1 clinics are being held daily Monday through Friday by appointment. The health department estimates that 400 appointments will be available weekly with additional appointments becoming available as more vaccine is shipped.

For general information about seasonal and H1N1 flu and updated information about vaccines visit the health department's website at www.co.orange.nc.us/health or the Flu Information line at 919-245-2479.

h1n1 vaccine update

From the Orange County Health Department:

The Orange County Health Department will hold 2 H1N1 vaccination clinics on Friday, October 23, 2009. The walk-in clinics will begin at 1:30 pm, last until the vaccine supplies are exhausted and will be held at both health department locations:
• 300 West Tryon Street , Hillsborough
• 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill
Injectable vaccine will be available and will be free. (Injectable vaccine is made with inactivated or 'killed' virus and is injected into the muscle, like the seasonal flu shot.)

These clinics are for persons identified as members of priority groups for vaccination due to being at increased risk for complications from flu. These groups are:
• Pregnant women
• Persons 6 months - 24 years of age
• Close contacts to and caregivers of children <6 months of age
• Persons 25-64 years of age with conditions placing them at increased risk for complications from flu
• Healthcare workers

Monitor H1N1 vaccine availability by calling the health department's Flu Line at 245-2479 or visiting the department's website at www.co.orange.nc.us/health

H1N1 nasal mist

From the county Health Department: (Remember, the nasal mist is not for pregnant women or those with underlying health issues)

HILLSBOROUGH--The Orange County Health Department will receive 700 doses of H1N1 nasal mist later today. The department will follow current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines and plans to distribute a portion of this first vaccine shipment to medical practices not receiving vaccine directly form the State and to Orange County Emergency Services for eligible first responders. The department will also vaccinate eligible health department clients and staff providing direct patient care.

The CDC's Vaccination Information Statement for live H1N1 explains that nasal mist is a live, attenuated intranasal vaccine (or LAIV). It is licensed for healthy, non-pregnant people from 2 through 49 years of age. The live vaccine virus is attenuated (weakened) so it will not cause illness. People should not get nasal mist if they have a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs. "To get the live H1N1 vaccine, a person must be healthy, 2 to 49 years of age and not pregnant. Persons in close contact to a severely immuno-compromised patient (hospitalized in a protected environment) should not receive the live vaccine formulation," says Judy Butler, RN Community Services Supervisor.

While certain groups should not get live virus vaccines – for example pregnant women, people with long-term health problems, and children from 6 months to 2 years of age – it is important that they be vaccinated. They should get the inactivated form of H1N1 (vaccine that has killed virus in it) when it becomes available. For more information on H1N1 vaccine restrictions and eligibility requirements visit the CDC's website to the review the latest H1N1 vaccination information statements at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/default.htm.

County public health officials anticipate that local medical providers will begin receiving H1N1 vaccine shipments within the next two weeks. The health department expects future vaccine shipments, but has no delivery date. For local flu updates visit www.co.orange.nc.us/health.

H1N1 update

According to the Orange County Health Department, confirmed cases of novel influenza A, aka H1N1, aka "swine flu," are now up to 19 from 18.

The health department has the following to say about the disease:

* According to the CDC, the novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, which is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person travel through the air and enter the mouth or nose of people or land on objects nearby. Infectious droplets may also be spread when a person touches another person or a contaminated object and then touches their mouth or nose before washing their hands.


* The public is encouraged to prevent disease spread and protect their health. The health department recommends practicing consistent respiratory etiquette (covering coughs and sneezes with tissue) and proper hand washing. Clean commonly touched surfaces often. Avoid contact with people who have flu-like symptoms.

* Individuals with flu-like symptoms should contact their medical provider and avoid contact with others. Stay home from work, school, church or social gatherings for 7 days after start of illness or until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved whichever is longer

H1N1

According to the Orange County Health Department, confirmed cases of novel influenza A, aka H1N1, aka "swine flu," are now up to 18 from 14.

The health department has the following to say about the disease:

* According to the CDC, the novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, which is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person travel through the air and enter the mouth or nose of people or land on objects nearby. Infectious droplets may also be spread when a person touches another person or a contaminated object and then touches their mouth or nose before washing their hands.


* The public is encouraged to prevent disease spread and protect their health. The health department recommends practicing consistent respiratory etiquette (covering coughs and sneezes with tissue) and proper hand washing. Clean commonly touched surfaces often. Avoid contact with people who have flu-like symptoms.

* Individuals with flu-like symptoms should contact their medical provider and avoid contact with others. Stay home from work, school, church or social gatherings for 7 days after start of illness or until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved whichever is longer

letter regarding swine flu and schools

This letter is posted on the Orange County Schools Web site:

The State Health Department and the Department of Public Instruction have published the following letter regarding preventative measures against Swine Flu for distribution to all schools in North Carolina. Please rest assured that we are monitoring the situation very closely and will do whatever it takes to protect the health and safety of our students. Additional information is available on our website, www.orange.k12.nc.us/safety_Flu.html.

Dear Parents and Guardians:
This letter is to inform you that the State of North Carolina has entered a heightened surveillance stage resulting from the presence of a swine flu virus that is making people sick in several states and Mexico. Although, to date, mostly mild illness has occurred in the United States, we realize that many people are worried and we hope this letter will help address your concerns. We believe students can safely attend classes, so schools will remain open at this time. Individual schools might have to close if staff or students are diagnosed with swine flu.
At this time, the state and local health departments have advised us that students can continue to come to school, as long as they are not sick and do not think they have flu symptoms. Flu-like symptoms include: fever (over 100 degrees F.), feverishness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or stuffy nose. Additional symptoms may be experienced with swine flu, including muscle pain, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.
Flu spreads easily.
If you suspect your child is getting the flu, it is important that he/she does not
attend school or go anywhere else, such as group childcare, the mall, or sporting events, where other people would be exposed to flu germs. It is also important to teach your children how to reduce their risk of getting the flu and protect others from infection.
• Teach your children to wash their hands often. Washing with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds is ideal (That’s about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice).
• Teach your children the proper use of hand sanitizer. Gels, rubs, and hand wipes all work well as long as they contain at least 60% alcohol. Hand wipes must be disposed of
properly. Always read and follow label instructions when using hand sanitizer.
• Teach your children to keep their hands away from their face and avoid touching their mouth, nose, and eyes.
• Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the
inside of their elbow. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve—not your hands!
• Help your children to learn these healthy habits by setting a good example; always do them yourself.
If we all practice good hygiene, health officials believe we can limit the spread of swine flu in our schools at this time. We are following CDC standards regarding best cleaning practices for infection control in our buildings and classrooms.
While the current situation does not warrant school closure, if swine flu continues to spread and more students become ill, it may become necessary to close schools for a period of time. Our nursing and administrative staff are working with public health officials to monitor the situation here and all decisions will be made in consultation with them. We will inform parents immediately if the situation changes and it becomes necessary to close schools.
If schools are closed, please do not make arrangements—such as sending children to a friend’s home or group childcare—that will put them in close contact with other children. It is important to plan ahead. Have a family discussion now to consider options in advance of the event of a school closing.
Please stay informed by paying attention to media reports. You may also get information at www.cdc.gov, www.ncpublichealth.com, or CARE LINE, the toll-free number that North Carolinians can use to get answers to their questions. The CARE LINE number is 1-800-662-7030. Information will also be available on our website, www.orange.k12.nc.us.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children and our schools healthy.