2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus Fall Update - #11

Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 12:30 P.M.
Linda Mermelstein, MD, MPH
Acting Commissioner, Suffolk County Department of Health Services

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 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 Copaigue (December 4, 2009), Hauppauge (December 7, 2009), Holbrook (December 9, 2009), and 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 November 30, 2009, the Department received an additional 2,200 doses of vaccine including inactivated vaccine in prefilled syringes and multidose vials. Thus far, the Department has received a total of 69,300 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 1, 2009, the Department has held twenty (20) 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 1, 2009, approximately 7,275 people have received H1N1 vaccine in the Department's POD clinics.

3. The Department has been distributing H1N1 influenza vaccine to local health care providers who have been unable to obtain it from the State. As of November 30, 2009, about 15,110 doses have been distributed to local providers, and distribution will continue as long as vaccine is available. Providers can see the section on "Information for Providers" below for information on ordering vaccine.

3. The Department is also offering the vaccine to hospitals upon request. The balance of the Department's H1N1 vaccine supply will go to the hospitals. Hospitals should contact the Division of Public Health at 631-853-3055 to request vaccine when needed. So far, hospitals have received a total of 13,930 doses from the Department. The Department stays in contact with hospitals through regular conference calls and has already held several calls over the past month.

4. 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. As of November 30, 2009, approximately 13,750 doses have been distributed to these facilities for their use.

5. 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.

6. The Department has been experiencing a relative "surplus" of the H1N1 influenza live attenuated vaccine (nasal spray) and encourages providers to administer it to people who are able to receive it, as it is effective and protects against H1N1 influenza.

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine:

1. Suffolk County Department of Health Services held over 50 mass vaccination seasonal flu POD clinics throughout Suffolk County since the vaccine became available. At this time, the department does not have sufficient supply of seasonal influenza vaccine to hold mass clinics. In the event that the Department does receive additional seasonal influenza vaccine, new mass clinics will be announced.

2. As an important reminder, the new H1N1 influenza vaccine that is available 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 Providers:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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:

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.

Influenza Monitoring Information:

1. Suffolk County has received a reduced number of reports of clusters of influenza like illness from schools in the County and Emergency Rooms are reporting moderate levels of influenza-like illness. 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.

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/.

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. 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. Should the need arise, we will expand hours as appropriate.

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)

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2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus Fall Update - #9

Tuesday, November 18, 2009, 5:00 P.M.
Linda Mermelstein, MD, MPH
Acting Commissioner, Suffolk County Department of Health Services

H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Status:

1. Yesterday, Suffolk County Department of Health Services received 21,500 doses of H1N1 influenza vaccine, 80% of which are pediatric and adult (age 4 years and older) doses in preservative-free pre-filled syringes and 17% of which are pediatric doses (6 months and older) preservative-free pre-filled syringes and 3% of which are live attenuated nasal spray. The Department has received a total of 60,500 doses of H1N1 vaccine so far. The Department will continue to order vaccine as long as it is available.

2. As of yesterday, the Department has held eleven (11) public Points of Distribution (POD) clinics in various locations throughout Suffolk including Riverhead, Brentwood, Wyandanch, Selden, Hauppauge, Holbrook, Mastic, Oakdale, Shirley, and Commack since November 5, 2009. 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 for pregnant women. So far, approximately 3,387 people have received H1N1 vaccine in the Department's POD clinics. The public is encouraged to first contact their own providers within the community for immunization with H1N1 influenza vaccine, as vaccine has also been shipped to providers within our community. 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 be put on the contact list for the Department's POD clinics.

3. The Department is holding an open clinic Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the Town of Southold Recreation Center at 90 Peconic Lane, Peconic, NY from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This clinic is ONLY for people in priority groups identified by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Priority groups include the following:

• Pregnant Women
• People who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel
• People 6 months through 24 years of age, and
• People 25 years through 64 years of age who have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/highrisk.htm)

The vaccine will be administered free of charge to those attending the clinic and no appointment is necessary. Check the Suffolk County Department of Health Services website for updates and information on clinics and for the hotline number: http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/departments/healthservices.aspx.

4. The Department has been distributing H1N1 influenza vaccine to local health care providers who have been unable to obtain it from the State. Thus far, about 6,000 doses have been distributed to local providers including EMS agency medical directors, and distribution will continue as long as vaccine is available. It is estimated that by the end of the week the Department will have distributed about 10,000 doses. Every provider who has requested vaccine from the Department has been contacted to provide vaccine. If these providers need additional vaccine, they can contact the Department again at the Public Health Division at 631-853-3055, as our supply has increased. Providers who are interested in receiving H1N1 influenza vaccine and who have not already contacted the Department to be put on our distribution list can call the Department's Public Health Division at 631-853-3055 to request it. 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.

5. 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 skilled nursing facility.

6. The Department is also offering the vaccine to hospitals upon request. The balance of the Department's H1N1 vaccine supply will go to the hospitals. Hospitals should contact the Division of Public Health at 631-853-3055 to request vaccine when needed.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. As an important reminder, the new H1N1 influenza vaccine that is available 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. Suffolk County Department of Health Services has been holding mass vaccination seasonal flu POD clinics since the vaccine became available and these will continue through the end of November, 2009, and possibly longer, depending on availability of seasonal flu vaccine. The location and dates for these PODs can be found on our department's website, www.suffolkcountyny.gov/health. 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.

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.

Influenza Monitoring Information:-

1. Suffolk County has continued to see clusters of H1N1 influenza and increased absenteeism rates throughout schools in the County. 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.

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/.

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. 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 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Should the need arise, we will expand hours as appropriate.

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)