SDHD H1N1 Situation Update

September 4, 2009

Southeastern District Health Department (SDHD) will provide weekly updates on the H1N1 virus each Friday. This information is meant to be a “quick read” that provides basic information about what the health district is doing regarding the novel H1N1 influenza virus. For more information, please refer to the SDHD Points Of Contact near the end. This initial update is fairly long because it includes a broad base of information. Future updates will be shorter and include only updated information. This update is also posted on the SDHD website at www.sdhdidaho.org.

H1N1 Summary

-          Epidemiology: The H1N1 illness remains very similar in severity to seasonal flu. One difference from seasonal flu is that H1N1 is mostly affecting younger populations (up to 25 years old) and is easily transmitted from person to person.

-          Impact on Southeastern Idaho: There are currently sporadic cases; minimal impact other than planning efforts.

Recommended Response Actions

-          Wash your hands! Wash your hands! Wash your hands!

-          Businesses and Government should complete a Business Continuity plan in case the flu virus changes and causes more serious illness.

-          Plan to get your seasonal flu shot as early as possible. Then plan to get your H1N1 shots at the POD/vaccination clinics at your local school site.

-          Call the health district points of contact if you have questions.

Current Operations

-          EOC activities: The SDHD Emergency Operations Center is not activated.

-          Public Health Preparedness staff are completing planning requirements with a focus on vaccination planning and continuity of operations for business and government agencies.

-          Seasonal flu shots are being administered now via normal methods.

Upcoming Events

Date / Time	Event	Location	Note
Sept 4 / 12pm–1 pm	Preparedness Table at Pocatello Chamber of Commerce luncheon	Pocatello Red Lion hotel	Public Information Campaign for Preparedness Month
Sept 9 / 10am–1pm	H1N1 All-County Planning Summit	Pocatello Holiday Inn	Please RSVP to Penny at 239-5295
Sept 10 / 9am-1pm	District Distribution Center Exercise	Idaho Foodbank	Invite Only
Sept 11 / 5:45am	KPVI Channel 6 morning show	Channel 6 Pocatello	Get up early to see Denise!
Sept 11 / 1pm – 7pm	MRC Training and Preparedness Fair	SDHD building	Medical Reserve Corps meeting followed by equipment display that begins at 4pm.
Sept 24 / 7:30am	Chief’s Breakfast	Bannock County Memorial Building	H1N1 update to attendees
Oct 6 / 9:00am	POD Refresher Training	ISU Student Union

Future Operations

-      Vaccinations

o    We expect to run one POD in each county in late October or early November to get the first H1N1 vaccination completed.

o    Second shots and “first shot make-ups” will be completed via private offices or the health district.

-  The SDHD EOC will be activated for the vaccination campaign.  If southeastern Idaho is impacted by H1N1 prior to the vaccination campaign, the SDHD EOC will be activated to respond to it. For now, the SDHD EOC is not activated.

H1N1 Vaccine Update

-      General

o    Clinical trials continue and are tracking favorably.

o    Vaccinations are expected to require two shots, with the second 21 days after the first.

o    The first shot will likely be in a Point Of Dispensing (POD) and the second shot at a private practitioner or health district by appointment.

o    The vaccine is expected to come in vials of 100 doses.

o    There is a Chinese report that says the H1N1 vaccine is effective with only one shot. CDC has not had a chance to review this report and therefore does not confirm or deny the claim yet.

o    Hospitals and community clinics (e.g., HealthWest) will get vaccine directly from Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

-      Distribution

o    We are expecting an initial nationwide push of 45 million doses in late October or early November. We don’t know how many we will receive in Southeastern Idaho.

o    SDHD will receive the vast majority of the initial distribution to be used in POD vaccination clinics. Private providers who work with large populations of priority groups will receive a portion of the initial distribution.

-      Points Of Dispensing (POD) Vaccination Clinics

o    The majority of initial vaccinations will take place in the Points Of Dispensing (PODs). These are the locations (mostly schools) that were used in the June 2006 exercise.

o    These initial vaccinations will focus on the priority groups listed below because of expected limited initial availability of the vaccine.

o    POD vaccination clinics will require significant volunteer support. Health care workers are asked to consider volunteering for these critical events. See information in the “Volunteer” section below.

o    Expect the PODs to be opened in late October or early November.

o    Businesses with more than 100 employees are encouraged to coordinate with SDHD to receive H1N1 vaccine for their employees in late November to early December. In this case, the business provides the vaccinator.

-      Priority Groups: Based upon data to date, the CDC has identified priority populations. Below are the priority groups per CDC http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm

o    Pregnant women.

o    People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age.

o    Health care and emergency medical services personnel.

o    Persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age.

o    People from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

o    All other populations fall into a “General Population” category and will be scheduled to receive the vaccine after the priority groups have a chance to be vaccinated. Personnel in Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource industries will be vaccinated with the general population unless they fall into one of the five CDC priority populations.

Public Information

SDHD has commenced a public education campaign, coordinated by the Public Information Officer, Tracy McCulloch (208-239-5250 or tmcculloch@phd6.idaho.gov).  

-         Information sent to each school district. SDHD is also printing brochures to be sent to parents of school children in School District 25. Other schools districts interested in these brochures should contact the PIO.

-         Information to be sent to all child-care facilities.

-         SDHD is preparing a booklet for recommended home-care of the ill.

-         SDHD is preparing to distribute a DVD with flu-prevention information.

-         SDHD is providing a series of articles to Idaho State Journal in the Sunday newspaper.

-         SDHD is conducting interviews on local television stations as opportunities arise.

Volunteer Information

The vaccination campaign will require many volunteers. All volunteer information will be distributed via the Volunteer Idaho volunteer management system. If you are interested in volunteering, please register at www.volunteridaho.org or call Michelle Butterfield at 239-5207.

Resources

-SDHD Points Of Contact

            Darin Letzring, All-Hazards Planner       dletzring@phd6.idaho.gov   208-239-5275

            Denise O’Farrell, Health Care Liaison    dofarrell@phd6.idaho.gov    208-239-5208

            SDHD website: www.sdhdidaho.org

- CDC:

- H1N1 home page: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

- Planning Checklists:  http://flu.gov/professional/checklists.html

- Specific guidance updates: http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/

- FEMA - Continuity Of Operations: http://www.fema.gov/government/coop/index.shtm

- Ready.Gov for all hazards preparedness:  www.ready.gov