H1N1 Website and Call Center

For H1N1 Information in SW Washington, a central website has been created for consistency among the 4 counties.

Please visit http://www.flunewsswwashington.org/ for the latest information. CRESA will continue to share emergency information and will repost information to this blog, but updates specific to H1N1 will be centralized by Region IV Incident Command at the above website.

A SW Washington Call Center is also available at 1-877-510-2772. This call center is only currently staffed Monday-Friday from 8a-5p.

Southwest Washington receives smaller amount of vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that it anticipates 29 million doses of H1N1 vaccine by the end of the month instead of the 40 million originally expected. The manufacturing process was slower than expected.

As a result, the 19,400 doses anticipated for Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties next week has been reduced to 5,000 doses. With this smaller allocation, Public Health is limiting vaccine administration to vaccine clinics in several schools, childcare centers and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinic.

Early vaccinations will be prioritized for pregnant women because they are at high risk of complications from H1N1; healthcare workers because they can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients and also because increased absenteeism among healthcare professionals could reduce healthcare system capacity; and children in congregate settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread.

“It’s very difficult to predict how many doses will be available in the weeks ahead. We know that this can create some frustration for healthcare providers and anxiety for people wanting to get vaccinated. All of us are waiting for vaccine supply to increase,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Region IV Health Officer.

As vaccine continues to arrive in Southwest Washington, information will be posted at http://www.flunewsswwashington.org/. Residents can also call 877-510-2772.

H1N1 Vaccine begins to arrive in SW Washington

The first shipment of H1N1 vaccine arrived today in Southwest Washington. The 2,890 doses arrived at Clark County Public Health in intra-nasal form and were shared with health jurisdictions in Cowlitz, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties.

Vaccine will first be made available to two priority groups, including healthcare workers and emergency responders who provide direct patient care, and to children in childcare or other group settings. Intra-nasal vaccine is suitable for healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 49. It cannot be given to pregnant women.

Hospitals in the four-county region will receive vaccine directly from the vaccine distributor, and will use the vaccine for staff who provide direct care.

More intra-nasal H1N1 vaccine is expected to arrive in the region next week. Injectable vaccine is expected to arrive later in the month.

Public health officials are encouraging everyone to get vaccinated against seasonal flu now and H1N1 (swine flu) as supplies allow. Because supplies may be limited initially, the vaccine will first be offered to those at highest risk of complications from H1N1. These include:

~Pregnant women (injectable vaccine only)
~Persons who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers)
~Health-care and emergency medical services personnel
~Persons ages 6 months--24 years
~Persons ages 25--64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications

More information about the response to H1N1 (swine flu) in Southwest Washington is available at http://www.flunewsswwashington.org/.

Emergency Proclamation Strengthens Clark County H1N1 Response

Tuesday evening the Board of Clark County Commissioners approved an emergency proclamation in support of our local H1N1 response. This proclamation expands the number of persons who can administer the H1N1 vaccine, expedites purchasing procedures, and assists with staffing resources.

The first shipment of H1N1 vaccine to SW Washington is anticipated to arrive this week. We are expecting several thousand doses of intranasal mist, which will be distributed throughout Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties. Under the proclamation, paramedics and certain emergency medical technicians will be allowed to help with the vaccinations, speeding up the effort to inoculate health care workers and county residents.

Starting mid-month, public health officials anticipate weekly shipments of the vaccine in both the nasal mist and shot forms for broader distribution. The emergency proclamation will enable the county to purchase materials and services in an expedited manner.

Please visit the public health website at http://www.flunewsswwashington.org/ for more information.

New local H1N1 Swine Flu website

Public Health has launched their very own website for the H1N1 Swine Flu at http://www.flunewsswwashington.org/. This website serves the counties of Clark, Cowlitz, Skamania, Wahkiakum and the Cowlitz Tribe.


In addition, Region 4 Public Health Incident Management Team and agency partners participated in a meeting with Governor Gregoire and Secretary of Health, Mary Selecky, on 9/18/09. This meeting was televised by CVTV and is available for viewing at:

http://www.cityofvancouver.us/cvtv/cvtvarchive2/Clark_County_Public_Events/2009_Events/Swine_Flu_Updates/H1N1_Swine_Flu-Coordinating_a_Regional_Response_9-18-09.wmv

Will people need just one dose of H1N1 vaccine?

Preliminary studies show one dose of the H1N1 vaccine will be effective for healthy adults. We don't know for sure yet about older children, pregnant women and adults with chronic conditions, but we believe that one dose of vaccine will probably protect these groups as well. We also don't know yet about young children, especially children younger than 9. Previous experience with seasonal flu vaccine tells us that young children may still require two doses. At this point, the CDC has not changed its recommendations regarding the two-dose requirement for H1N1 vaccine for either adults or children. Please continue to check this site for updates as the studies continue and we receive new information.

The information has been released at the request of the SW Washington Public Health Incident Commander. For more H1N1 Swine Flu information, spend time at the Clark County Public Health Swine Flu website at http://www.clark.wa.gov/public-health/diseases/swineflu.html.