Small amount of H1N1 influenza vaccine for children under three voluntarily recalled

Small amount of H1N1 influenza vaccine for children under three voluntarily recalled
There are no vaccine safety concerns and kids don’t need to be revaccinated

Vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur has voluntarily recalled a small amount of H1N1 vaccine intended for use in children under 3. No safety issues with the vaccine have been identified. Routine testing revealed that this batch of vaccine has become slightly less potent over time. Despite this, children who received this vaccine are still protected from H1N1 flu, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials.

“Children who have already received the recalled vaccine don’t need to be revaccinated. Parents just need to make sure that their kids 9 and younger receive two doses of H1N1 vaccine at least 21 days apart,” said Gary Oxman, Multnomah County Health Officer.

This recalled product represents a very small percentage of the total amount of vaccine received in Washington and Oregon. Washington received 5,100 doses of the recalled vaccine, a tiny fraction of the 1.6 millions doses of H1N1 vaccine the state has received to date. In Oregon, these figures are 7,600 and 1,066,450 respectively.

Any health care providers who have the recalled vaccine should stop using it, keep it refrigerated, and wait for instructions on how to return it.

More information about the recalled vaccine is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/syringes_qa.htm. Additional vaccine information, as well as tips on how schools, businesses, and others can avoid getting sick is available at www.nwflunews.info or www.flunewsswwashington.org.

H1N1 vaccine is now available for everyone in Oregon and Southwest Washington and everyone is encouraged to get vaccinated.

H1N1 Vacine Message from the Oregon Public Health Division

Pandemic Communications
Message 7 – H1N1 Update


As of Dec. 11, 2009, 1274 confirmed hospitalizations and 63 deaths have occurred in Oregon, due to H1N1 flu. The Oregon Public Health Division continues to respond to the pandemic and provide leadership and resources for all Oregonians. Here’s what’s new.

Resources
Oregon’s flu hotline now has nurses available to give advice on exposure to the flu, prevention, symptoms, and deciding when to see a doctor. Please keep the number handy and share it with family, friends and clients. The number to call is 1-800-978-3040.

The Oregon Public Health Division recently updated its flu Web site with new posters that promote flu-free work environments. Feel free to post these materials in the common areas of your work unit. The posters appear in English and Spanish. Look for “flu-free” under the Employer Resources section of the following page: http://flu.oregon.gov/Pages/BusinessesandEmployers.aspx.

Vaccine Update
On Monday, Dec. 14, Oregon Public Health officials expanded the availability of the H1N1 vaccine to everyone. Dr. Mel Kohn, director of Oregon Public Health Division, recommends that everyone get vaccinated, especially people who may be at high risk for complications during the flu.

Cases of H1N1 flu have dropped off over the last few weeks, but there is a good possibility that additional waves of illness may occur over the next few months. Health officials continue to urge people to get vaccinated to prevent problems later this winter. Private healthcare providers, retail pharmacies and local public health clinics will receive the vaccine.

You can find public clinic locations for H1N1 vaccine at the following Web site or by calling the flu hotline, 1-800-978-3040: http://flu.oregon.gov/pages/vaccinelocations.aspx.

Call the Flu Holine Before you go to the doctor

Originally printed at http://www.kcby.com/news/health/70631457.html


These days, a simple fever raises questions: Do I have the H1N1 flu and if I do, should I go to the doctor?

Before you rush to the clinic or hospital, there's a simple call you can make. Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline (1-800-978-3040) now has nurses to talk to about symptoms, prevention advice, concerns about flu exposure, taking care of others and when to see a doctor.

"Most people recover from the flu on their own with rest and fluids. But sometimes it's helpful to talk to a medical professional to decide if you need to go to the doctor," says Paul Cieslak, M.D., medical director for the Oregon public health immunization program.

The Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline is one-stop shopping for all your flu concerns. Operators can tell callers about vaccine availability and answer many basic flu questions. The new feature connects callers with a nurse who can provide medical advice about both seasonal and H1N1 flu. These services are available throughout the state, in nearly any language, and the call is free. It could save you a trip to the doctor or emergency room, and ease crowding so that health care providers can help the people who need it more quickly.

"We want everyone in Oregon to get the best information and advice about the flu. And we want to make it easy for people to stay home when they're sick, unless they really need to see a doctor," says Cieslak. Oregon is one of the few states to offer this service.

The Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline is open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; weekends and holidays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Public Awareness Campaign to educate travelers about H1N1

CDC Kicks Off National Travelers’ Health Public Awareness Campaign Effort Aims to Educate Travelers about H1N1

Every holiday season, millions of Americans travel through the nation’s airports, seaports, and train stations to spend time with loved ones. Special holiday get-togethers – and traveling itself – bring people close together but also provide an ideal way for illness to spread. To help travelers avoid the flu this holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today launched its largest ever public awareness campaign about staying healthy while traveling.

“The holidays are one of the busiest travel times of the year,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “People are in close contact – whether they’re on a plane, train, ship or just visiting with loved ones. This campaign provides practical advice to help travelers prepare for their trips and stay healthy during their holiday travel.”

CDC is urging people to take the following steps when planning their travel and to stay informed about what to do if they get sick while they’re gone, including:
• Traveling only when they are feeling well • Getting vaccinated for flu (both seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 if they are in a priority group) • Washing hands often • Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve

“We know that flu – and specifically H1N1 this year – is a big concern for people, but flu shouldn’t ruin the holidays,” Dr. Schuchat said. “By practicing a little prevention, people can enjoy their holidays and stay well at the same time.”

CDC developed the campaign in response to the emergence in April of the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic. Since then, flu has spread throughout the country and around the world. In the United States, it has accounted for millions of cases and more than 4,000 deaths since April.

CDC launched the campaign at a joint event with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today in Washington, DC. The campaign will run through the holiday season and use a variety of media, including informational posters at major airports, ports of entry and border crossings; national radio and print advertising; and social media and online outreach. CDC will also partner with local health departments, travel professionals, health care professionals, and colleges and universities to further educate the public. Campaign themes include “Prevention can be Travel-Sized” and “Stop, Wash and Go.”

For more information about the CDC Travelers’ Health campaign, recommendations regarding travel, visit http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/novel-h1n1-flu.aspx. For more information about the H1N1 virus, visit www.flu.gov.

KTVZ Flu Tip - When To See A Doctor

http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=11315586

Over at KTVZ they are running an article about flu symptoms and whether or not you should see your doctor.

"So far, the H1N1 flu is not more serious than regular flu, so if you are sick, stay home to avoid spreading it to others and take good care of yourself," says Mel Kohn, M.D., Oregon Public Health director. "If you have other conditions that put you at high risk or if symptoms get serious, that's when you should call your doctor." (See list of conditions below.*)

Some health conditions increase the risk of severe illness from influenza:
• Pregnancy;
• Long-term aspirin therapy in children and adolescents (aged 6 mos.--18 yrs.);
• Chronic lung disease (including asthma), heart, kidney, liver, blood, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes);
• Immuno-suppression (including that caused by medications or HIV);
• Any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizures or neuromuscular disorders) that affects respiratory function or handling of respiratory secretions or that increases the risk for aspiration; and
• Residence in a nursing home or other chronic-care facility.Also, children aged 6-59 months (up to 5 years) and adults aged 65 years and older are considered at increased risk for severe illness from influenza.People who have severe illness or are at high risk for flu complications should contact a health care provider who will determine whether treatment is needed. If you are directed to see a health care provider, ask if the facility has any special procedures for flu sufferers who visit.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing;
• Bluish or gray skin color;
• Not drinking enough fluids;
• Severe or persistent vomiting;
• Not waking up or not interacting;
• So irritable that the child does not want to be held;
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough;
• Fever with a rash.

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen;
• Sudden dizziness;
• Confusion;
• Severe or persistent vomiting;
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and cough.

Go to the KTVZ page for the full article. Stay home - take care of yourself - try not to expose other people. Most people will recover within a week.

Dept. of Health and Human Services - new resource for H1N1 Swine Flu

The Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships has announced a new resource for community and faith-based organizations: H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community & Faith-based Organizations.

Community and faith-based organizations are essential partners in comprehensive state and local flu response, and this guide was created to support them this flu season. The guide provides specific action steps that community and faith-based organizations can take to help keep communities healthy during flu season, including:

Communicating important information about flu,

Supporting vaccination efforts,

Linking vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations to vital information and resources,

Visit http://flu.gov/professional/community/ to download the guide.

Calling in sick a good idea

Do you dread calling in sick? Whether it's the fear of a judgmental boss or just concerns about missing out on important happenings, health experts want to put you at ease. There are times when making the call is a must. Confused about whether staying home is a good idea? Here are five signs that a sick day is in order...
According to a recent Glamour.com poll, only 21 percent of readers say they make a point to stay home when they're sick. The rest of you do sometimes or not at all.

Guys! The world will not end if you stay home and a.) rest and recover so you can get well again, and b.) prevent the spread of your germs to others.

More article -

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/5-reasons-why-its-a-good-idea-to-call-in-sick-518206/

Regional Flu Update

We received this update yesterday:

Regional Public Information Officers,

Please visit the Regional Public Health Flu Web site for the latest update
at:

nwflunews.info

Also, please note that the State of Oregon conducted a news conference and
issued a news release this morning to set the stage for the arrival of
vaccine over the next several weeks. That news release can be found at:

http://www.flu.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2009news/2009-0930.pdf

Thank you.

Philip Bransford

(503) 988-6104

Swine Flu - we can help prevent it!

H1N1, or what some call swine flu, is very serious. It can be unpredictable in nature, but we can help prevent the spread if we work at it.

Oregon Emergency Management takes this flu seriously. However, we don't want people to live in fear. Because knowledge is power, here is some knowledge to help you get through this season safely.

Get your regular seasonal flu shot. This is not for H1N1 but will cover you for three other strains that may show up this winter, and it is possible to get H1N1 and a different flu at the same time.
If you are identified as at risk for H1N1, you will need to get two shots a few weeks apart (one shot may be sufficient, depending on the circumstances). Information can be found at http://www.flu.oregon.gov/ on who will be the priority groups for those shots.

The flu is a set of symptoms: respiratory, fever, headache, cough, sore throat and muscle aches. It can put you in bed for seven to 10 days, and the cough and fatigue can last for a month or more.

The flu is spread by droplets (coughing/sneezing). H1N1 has heavy droplets that fall to the ground within 3 feet. So keep your distance, cover your cough with your sleeve — or as my mom taught me, cough and sneeze down into your shirt.

Wash your hands regularly, keep them out of our mouth, nose and eyes, and use antibacterial waterless hand cleanser If you don't feel well, stay home. We can stay healthy if we are considerate of others and work together.

H1N1 Swine Flu Webcast tomorrow for small businesses

DO YOU WORK IN OR OWN A SMALL BUSINESS? FLU.GOV H1N1 WEBCAST TOMORROW Friday, September 18, 1-2 PM EDT Join experts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, U.S. Small Business Administration and the National Federation of Independent Businesses Legal Foundation Learn how to prevent and reduce the spread of the flu in a webcast conversation, hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ask experts your questions and share your concerns so that you can be prepared this flu season. To participate, visit www.flu.gov.

Secretary Napolitano announces H1N1 Preparedness Guide for small businesses

SECRETARY NAPOLITANO ANNOUNCES H1N1 PREPAREDNESS GUIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

WASHINGTON—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today joined Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen Mills and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Influenza Division Deputy Director Daniel Jernigan to announce a preparedness guide to assist small businesses in planning for the H1N1 flu.

“Small businesses play an essential role in our national effort to prepare for all disasters and emergencies—including the H1N1 flu,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This guide will help America’s small businesses maintain continuity of operations and resiliency as the fall flu season approaches.”

“Small Business owners should take the time to create a plan, talk with their employees and make sure they are prepared for flu season,” added Administrator Mills. “For countless small businesses, having even one or two employees out for a few days has the potential to negatively impact operations and their bottom line. A thoughtful plan will help keep employees and their families healthy, as well as protect small businesses and local economies.”

Outbreaks of H1N1 flu are occurring now across the country and will likely coincide with the return of seasonal flu this fall and winter. The preparedness guide offers small business employers tools and information to help them plan for and respond flexibly to varying levels of severity of an H1N1 outbreak—which may lead to increased absenteeism, and, if the outbreak becomes more severe, may include restricted service capabilities and supply chain disruptions. Additional preparations may be necessary if a more serious outbreak evolves during the fall and winter.

Employers are encouraged to put strategies in place now to protect their employees and their businesses in advance of the fall flu season. Included in the preparedness guide are tips on how to write a continuity of operations plan, steps for keeping employees healthy, frequently asked questions about the 2009 H1N1 flu and a list of additional resources that employers can access online.

For more information and to view the preparedness guide, visit www.flu.gov.

CDC Leery of Estimates About Swine Flu's Toll

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/08/26/health/AP-US-MED-Swine-Flu.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
Filed at 4:38 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Government health officials are urging people not to panic over estimates of 90,000 people dying from swine flu this fall.

''Everything we've seen in the U.S. and everything we've seen around the world suggests we won't see that kind of number if the virus doesn't change,'' Dr. Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a C-SPAN interview taped Wednesday.

While the swine flu seems quite easy to catch, it so far hasn't been more deadly than the flu strains seen every fall and winter -- many people have only mild illness. And close genetic tracking of the new virus as it circled the globe over the last five months so far has shown no sign that it's mutating to become more virulent.

Still, the CDC has been preparing for a worst-case flu season as a precaution -- in July working from an estimate slightly more grim than one that made headlines this week -- to make sure that if the virus suddenly worsened or vaccination plans fell through, health authorities would know how to react.

On Monday the White House released a report from a group of presidential advisers that included a scenario where anywhere from 30 percent to half of the population could catch what doctors call the ''2009 H1N1'' flu, and death possibilities ranged from 30,000 to 90,000. In a regular flu season, up to 20 percent of the population is infected and 36,000 die.

''We don't think that's the most likely scenario,'' CDC flu specialist Dr. Anne Schuchat said of the presidential advisers' high-end tally.

What's really expected this year? CDC won't speculate, finding a numbers game pointless as it tries to balance getting a largely complacent public to listen to its flu instructions without hyping the threat.

Along with how the virus itself continues to act, the ultimate toll depends on such things as vaccinations beginning as planned -- currently set for mid-October -- and whether the people who need them most get them. CDC also is working to help hospitals keep the not-so-sick from crowding emergency rooms and to properly target anti-flu drugs to the most vulnerable.

What is likely: A busy flu season that starts earlier than usual, Schuchat told The Associated Press. This new H1N1 strain never went away over the summer, infecting children at summer camps in particular. Already clusters of illnesses are being reported at some schools and colleges around the country,

Oregon Preparing for H1N1

Today there was a statewide summit by Governor Kulongsoki about the H1N1 threat to the state of Oregon. More than 800 people attended from private and public sectors, including representatives from schools, hospitals, businesses, state and county emergency managers, and more.

The H1N1 flu has caused almost 500 deaths in the United States since it was discovered in March, including 11 people from Oregon. The Governor asked that every Oregonian be ready to take care of themselves and their families in case the flu gets worse as flu season starts.

The worst case scenario might be that 1 or 2 out of every 5 Oregonians could be sickened by the flu. In this case the Governor urges that if you are sick that you stay at home to prevent spreading the flu. Symptoms of the H1N1 flu are similar to the seasonal flu: high fever, cough, sore throat, chills, body aches, and fatigue. Symptoms can range from mild to severe depending upon your age, health, and other factors.

http://www.rdmag.com/news/feedsap/2009/08/life-sciences-oregon-preparing-for-swine-flu-season/

http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/state/story/Ore-preps-for-swine-flu-season/oV_2UT26zkK26wUIfwo38Q.cspx

For more information, http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/