Health and Safety Information

H1N1 Update for February 2, 2010

February 12, 2010: View the Update from the New York Statewide School Health Services Center Flyer

(Released Friday, February 12, 2010)

Suffolk County Department of Health Free H1N1 Clinic Flyer

January 21, 2010: View the Flyer for Free Vaccinations and the Spanish version of the Flyer: Curso Intensivo de Vacunacion Gratuito de H1N1

(Released Thursday, January 21, 2010)

H1N1 Influenza Virus Update - #1
Thursday, January 7, 2010, 4:30 P.M.
Linda Mermelstein, MD, MPH
Acting Commissioner, Suffolk County Department of Health Services

Key Points:

1. This Sunday marks the beginning of the annual observance of National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). The H1N1 flu is a serious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that between mid-April and November 14, 2009, 47 million people in the United States were infected with the 2009 H1N1 flu, more than 200,000 people were hospitalized, and over 9,800 people died. Influenza is unpredictable and we do not know the likelihood of a future wave of H1N1 flu, but we do know that vaccination is the most important step in protecting against influenza. Protect yourself, your family and your community by getting vaccinated. H1N1 Influenza vaccine is becoming more and more available in Suffolk County. This time represents a window of opportunity for people to protect themselves against H1N1 influenza if they have not already received the H1N1 flu vaccine.

2. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) plans to hold three clinics for seasonal influenza vaccine. The first one will be on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 from 1 PM to 4 PM at the H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge. The second clinic to administer the seasonal influenza vaccine is planned for Friday, January 15, 2010 from 10 AM to 3 PM in the Riverhead Free Library at 330 Court St., Riverhead. A third clinic will be held on Wednesday, January 20th from 2 PM to 4 PM at the H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge (as long as vaccine remains available). Appointments are not required for these clinics. The seasonal influenza vaccine is free and for adults 18 years of age and older. Confirmation of our vaccination clinics can be found on our website at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health.

H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Status:

1. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) is holding OPEN (no appointment needed) points of distribution (POD) clinics for H1N1 influenza vaccination for people in priority groups for H1N1 influenza vaccination as follows:

Friday, January 8, 2010 at the Smithtown Library, 1 North County Road, Smithtown, between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM
Saturday, January 9, 2010 at the North Shore Library (Lower Level Community Room), 250 Route 25A, Shoreham, between 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM
Monday, January 11, 2010 at the Emergency Service Building, 1 Cedar Street, East Hampton, between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at the South Country Library, 22 Station Road, Bellport, between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM
Thursday, January 14, 2010 at the H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veteran's Memorial Highway, between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at the Middle Country Public Library, 575 Middle Country Road (Large Meeting Room), Selden between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM
Friday, January 22, 2010 at the Westhampton Presbyterian Church, 90 Meeting House Lane, Westhampton, between 12:00PM and 3:00 PM

2. As of January 6, 2010, the Department has held thirty five (35) public Points of Distribution (POD) H1N1 immunization clinics and provided the vaccine to approximately 11,756 people in Suffolk since November 5, 2009. These clinics have been held in varied geographic locations and during varied hours throughout the County to make vaccine accessible to those who need it. The Department has continued to provide the H1N1 influenza vaccine in its own health care facilities including the network of primary care health centers and community pediatric vaccine clinics. The Department is continuing its efforts to distribute H1N1 vaccine to Suffolk County residents.

Information for Hospitals and Providers:

1. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has issued a request for providers to NOT refuse the vaccine shipment at the point of delivery. If providers receive more vaccine than they can use or safely store, they should contact our pharmacist, Gail Mickaliger, RPh at gail.mickaliger@suffolkcountyny.gov or call the Division of Public Health at 631-853-3055.

2. Providers who have not yet registered for H1N1 influenza vaccine are urged to call 1-800-KID SHOT (1-800-543-7468) and the telephone operators will provide assistance in the registration process. Providers who have not registered to receive vaccine are urged to sign on to the State's Commerce website to register for vaccine at: https://hcsteamwork1.health.state.ny.us/pub/top.html. NYSDOH influenza guidance and information is also available at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/. Providers who want to order H1N1 vaccine must register on the NYSDOH website and receive an H1N1 PIN #. Providers should frequently check the NYSDOH website and NYSDOH Commerce website for up-to-date information, as the guidance is subject to change. Providers who do order vaccine should make sure they have appropriate storage facilities for the vaccine, once it is received.

3. The Department is also offering the vaccine to hospitals upon request. Hospitals should contact the Division of Public Health at 631-853-3055 to request vaccine when needed.

4. Health care providers should note that there is a separate pre-registration process to administer the H1N1 vaccine to adult patients (age 19 years and older). New York State Law also requires all vaccinations of pediatric patients (less than 19 years of age) to be entered into the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS), the state's immunization registry. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services urges health care providers to make plans now to vaccinate priority target populations against the H1N1 virus as soon as the vaccine is available to them.

5. The Department has been distributing H1N1 influenza vaccine to local health care providers. If providers need H1N1 influenza vaccine, they can contact the Department by emailing our pharmacist, Gail Mickaliger, RPh at gail.mickaliger@suffolkcountyny.gov (email is preferred) or by calling the Public Health Division at 631-853-3055. Providers will be contacted by our staff to make arrangements for them to pick up the vaccine. Providers must have registered for vaccine on the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) website and have an H1N1 PIN # to receive vaccine from our Department.

6. Providers should encourage use of the Nasal Spray H1N1 influenza vaccine (LAIV) for appropriate patients (healthy people 2 to 49 years of age, not including pregnant women), as it is effective against H1N1 influenza and there is a relative surplus of the nasal spray vaccine.

7. People highly recommended to receive H1N1 influenza vaccine (specified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) include pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, all people from 6 months through 24 years of age, persons aged 25 to 64 who have conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

Schools and Child Care Providers:

1. Schools and Child Care Providers should continue to follow the guidance of NYS Department of Education and Department of Health which can be found at the following website: http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/schools_and_child_care_providers/.

2. Schools should continue to complete absenteeism surveys on the Health Provider Network. Information on this survey is available on the website: http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/schools_and_child_care_providers/

3. Schools and Child Care Providers needing guidance from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services Division of Public Health should call the Division at 631-853-3055.

4. Schools interested in partnering with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services in holding H1N1 vaccination clinics should contact the Division of Public Health at 631-853-3055.

Influenza Monitoring Information:

1. Suffolk County Emergency Rooms are reporting markedly reduced levels of influenza-like illness compared to previous weeks. Parents are encouraged to continue to teach their children to cover their coughs and sneezes and use good hand hygiene, and keep their children home from school or other public settings when they are sick. The CDC recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. Even though it appears as if the Fall H1N1 influenza "wave" is declining in the United States and in New York, influenza activity is still above average for this time of the year and vaccination is the best way to protect against influenza and its complications.

2. Detailed information on influenza monitoring in New York State is available on the New York State Department of Health website at http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/, and detailed information on influenza monitoring in the United States is available on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm.

3. Both the President of the United States and the Governor of New York State have declared a Public Health Emergency, which allows the State hospitals flexibility in addressing surges due to influenza-like illness and increases the availability of vaccinators and facilitates distribution of vaccine within New York State. For more detailed information on these declarations, go to: http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/h1n1emergency10242009.html and http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/press_1029094.html.

Where to Direct Questions:

1. Questions from the general public or from health care providers about H1N1 influenza should be directed to a special NYSDOH H1N1 Influenza Hotline, 1-800-808-1987, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services also has a Suffolk County H1N1 Influenza Hotline, (631) 787-2200, which is currently open on weekdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Suffolk County Department of Health Services' Division of Public Health: 1-631-853-3055

(Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; no weekend hours)

“GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES ALL NEW YORKERS 6 MONTHS AND OLDER NOW ELIGIBLE TO GET H1N1 VACCINE”

Please visit our H1N1 page to view this press release from Governor Paterson regarding the availability of the H1N1 vaccine to New Yorkers.
http://schoolhealthservicesny.com/h1n1.cfm

Effective immediately, the H1N1 flu vaccine should be made available to all New Yorkers who want the vaccine,
He states that it is important to provide vaccine to as many people as possible and encourages New Yorkers to take time to get vaccinated against the flu.

(Released Friday, December 11, 2009)

2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus Fall Update - #12

Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 1:15 P.M.
Linda Mermelstein, MD, MPH
Acting Commissioner, Suffolk County Department of Health Services

Key Messages:
1. Even though it appears as if the Fall H1N1 influenza "wave" is declining in the United States and in New York, influenza activity is still above average for this time of the year and vaccination is the best way to protect against influenza and its complications.

2. Providers should encourage use of the Nasal Spray H1N1 influenza vaccine for appropriate patients (healthy people 2 to 49 years of age, not including pregnant women), as it is effective against H1N1 influenza and there is a relative surplus of the nasal spray vaccine, while there is a relative deficit of the inactivated vaccine for people in priority groups. Priority groups to receive H1N1 influenza vaccine (specified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) include pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, all people from 6 months through 24 years of age, persons aged 25 to 64 who have conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

3. Providers are urged to sign on to the State's Commerce website to register for vaccine and to order it and administer it to their patients in the priority groups for H1N1 influenza vaccination. The public who are in the priority groups for H1N1 vaccination are encouraged to check with their healthcare providers to try to obtain the vaccine.

H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Status:

1. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services is holding three OPEN points of distribution (POD) clinics for H1N1 influenza vaccination for people in priority groups for H1N1 influenza vaccination as follows:

December 14, 2009 at St. Rosalie Church, 31 East Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM
December 18, 2009 at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hall at Bicycle Path, Brookhaven, between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
December 22, 2009 at the H. Lee Dennison Building, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM

In addition, the Department is holding POD clinics by appointment only in Holbrook (December 9, 2009), Riverhead (December 16, 2009). The public is encouraged to first contact their own providers within the community for immunization with H1N1 influenza vaccine. Those in the priority groups for H1N1 vaccine who are unable to obtain vaccine from their providers can call the Suffolk County Public Health hotline at 631-787-2200 to make an appointment for these Department POD clinics. The Department will announce additional OPEN clinics in January as long as vaccine is available.

2. On December 7, 2009, the Department received an additional 3,900 doses of vaccine of inactivated vaccine in multi-dose vials. Thus far, the Department has received a total of 73,200 doses of H1N1 influenza vaccine in a variety of formulations. Our H1N1 influenza hotline has taken calls daily to provide information and schedule Suffolk residents for these POD clinics. As of December 7, 2009, the Department has held twenty (24) public Points of Distribution (POD) H1N1 immunization clinics in Suffolk since November 5, 2009. These clinics have been held in varied geographic locations and during varied hours throughout the County to make vaccine accessible to those who need it. These clinics have been for people in priority groups identified by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) who have contacted the Department on our H1N1 influenza hotline or who have come to our open clinics. As of December 7, 2009, approximately 8,417 people have received H1N1 vaccine in the Department's POD clinics. The Department has continued to provide the H1N1 influenza vaccine in its own health care facilities including the network of primary care health centers, community pediatric vaccine clinics and the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility. The Department is continuing to order additional vaccine from the State Department of Health and will continue to work to distribute it as quickly as possible to make it accessible to Suffolk County residents.

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine:

1. Suffolk County Department of Health Services has not received any additional seasonal influenza vaccine at this time.

2. The H1N1 influenza vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine - it is intended to be used alongside seasonal flu vaccine to protect people against illness and disease. Experts here at the Department of Health Services conclude that both seasonal and Novel H1N1 influenza vaccination is the most effective way to protect oneself and one's loved ones against the discomfort and the possibility of serious complications of both seasonal and Novel H1N1 influenza.

Information for Hospitals and Providers:

1. The Department is also offering the vaccine to hospitals upon request. Hospitals should contact the Division of Public Health at 631-853-3055 to request vaccine when needed.

2. Providers who have not registered to receive vaccine should do so on the NYSDOH website at: https://hcsteamwork1.health.state.ny.us/pub/top.html. NYSDOH influenza guidance and information is also available at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/. It is our understanding that all providers who want to order H1N1 vaccine must register on the NYSDOH website and receive an H1N1 PIN #. Providers should frequently check the NYSDOH website and NYSDOH Commerce website for up-to-date information, as the guidance is subject to change. Providers who do order vaccine should make sure they have appropriate storage facilities for the vaccine, once it is received.

3. Health care providers should note that there is a separate pre-registration process to administer the H1N1 vaccine to adult patients (age 19 years and older). New York State Law also requires all vaccinations of pediatric patients (less than 19 years of age) to be entered into the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS), the state's immunization registry. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services urges health care providers to make plans now to vaccinate priority target populations against the H1N1 virus as soon as the vaccine is available to them.

4. As noted above, the Department has been distributing H1N1 influenza vaccine to local health care providers who have been unable to obtain it from the State. If providers need H1N1 influenza vaccine, they can contact the Department by emailing our pharmacist, Gail Mickaliger, RPh at gail.mickaliger@suffolkcountyny.gov (email is preferred) or by calling the Public Health Division at 631-853-3055. Providers will be contacted by our staff to make arrangements for them to pick up the vaccine. Providers must have registered for vaccine on the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) website and have an H1N1 PIN # to receive vaccine from our Department.

Schools and Child Care Providers:

3. Schools and Child Care Providers needing guidance from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services Division of Public Health should call the Division at 631-853-3055.

4. Schools interested in partnering with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services in holding H1N1 vaccination clinics should contact the Division of Public Health at 631-853-3055.

Influenza Monitoring Information:

1. Suffolk County has received a reduced number of reports of clusters of influenza-like illness from schools in the County. Emergency Rooms are reporting moderate levels of activity and reduced influenza-like illness compared to previous weeks. Parents are encouraged to teach their children to cover their coughs and sneezes and use good hand hygiene, and keep their children home from school or other public settings when they are sick. The CDC recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100° F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

3. Detailed information on influenza monitoring in the United States is available on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm.

4. CDC has received reports of fraudulent emails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program. The messages request that users must create a personal H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov website. The message then states that anyone that has reached the age of 18 has to have his/her personal Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov site. The CDC has NOT implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration on www.cdc.gov. Users that click on the email are at risk of having malicious code installed on their system.

5. Both the President of the United States and the Governor of New York State have declared a Public Health Emergency, which allows the State hospitals flexibility in addressing surges due to influenza-like illness and increases the availability of vaccinators and facilitates distribution of vaccine within New York State. For more detailed information on these declarations, go to: http://www.flu.gov/professional/federal/h1n1emergency10242009.html and http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/press_1029094.html.

Where to Direct Questions:

Suffolk County Department of Health Services' Division of Public Health: 1-631-853-3055

(Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; no weekend hours)

Suffolk County Department of Health Services: Division of Public Health:
631-853-3055 (weekdays 9am-5pm)