Access Washington Home

[Pages:11]

H09- 067 – Information

September 30, 2009

|TO: |Home and Community Services (HCS) Division Regional Administrators |

| |Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Regional Administrators |

| |Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Directors |

|FROM: |Bill Moss, Director, Home and Community Services Division |

| |Linda Rolfe, Director, Division of Developmental Disabilities |

|SUBJECT: |Seasonal and H1N1 Flu Information – Flu Vaccines for Adults and Children 2009-2010 |

|Purpose: |To update case managers, nurses and social workers about the 2009-2010 flu information and vaccination |

| |recommendations. |

|Background: |Many of the individuals we serve, their caregivers and families are at risk of the flu. Nationally, flu |

| |accounts for over 200,000 hospitalizations and approximately 36,000 deaths. |

| | |

| |A new and very different influenza virus called “2009 H1N1” flu has emerged and is causing illness in people |

| |worldwide. Scientists believe the new H1N1 virus will continue to cause illness, hospital stays, and deaths |

| |in the United States in the coming months. |

| | |

| |This flu season may be more severe than usual because of the H1N1 virus. This means that more people may get |

| |seriously sick. Also, regular seasonal flu viruses will continue to spread and cause illness. |

|What’s new, changed, or |Influenza viruses are always changing and because of this, influenza vaccines are updated every year. This |

|Clarified |year there will be two vaccines: |

| | |

| |Seasonal Flu vaccine (available now) |

| |H1N1 Flu vaccine (available later this fall, and may require two injections) |

| | |

| |Vaccination is encouraged as soon as it becomes available. The goal for individuals, especially those at high|

| |risk of developing complications from influenza, is to get a seasonal flu vaccination before influenza |

| |activity takes place in the area. In Washington, there is ongoing influenza activity at this time, so the |

| |sooner individuals get their seasonal flu vaccination, the better. |

| | |

| |Priority groups have been identified to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. This includes health care providers. |

| |Anyone who has direct client/patient contact would be included in that priority group such as social workers,|

| |nurses and home care workers. |

| | |

| |Medicare and Medicaid will pay for both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines this year. Clients and caregivers |

| |with other insurance coverage should verify with their insurance company which flu vaccines will be covered. |

| | |

| |Medicaid Transportation Brokers will provide transportation to physician offices, and pharmacies providing |

| |flu vaccines if they are billing Medicaid and the requested pharmacies are approved providers. We have not |

| |yet received notice of which community pharmacies will be billing Medicaid, but will provide that information|

| |to staff as soon as that becomes available. |

| | |

| |Advisory Committee Immunization Practice (ACIP) Recommendations for 2009-2010 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine |

| |trivalent (three viruses) for Adults: |

| | |

| |Same as last season |

| |Over 50 years old |

| |Pregnant women (or will be pregnant) |

| |Immunocompromised |

| |Residents of nursing homes or community based residential facilities |

| |Household contacts and caregivers of children less than 5 years, adults greater than 50 years, and |

| |immunocompromised persons |

| |Health care workers |

| |Any adult who wants protection from influenza |

| | |

| |ACIP Recommendations for 2009-2010 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine trivalent (three viruses) for Children: |

| | |

| |Same as last season |

| |All children 6 months up to 19th birthday. |

| |Manage supply to ensure vaccination of: |

| |Children 6 - 59 months of age |

| |Children at risk: |

| |Chronic medical conditions |

| |Receiving long-term aspirin therapy |

| |Household contacts of persons at risk for complications from influenza |

| | |

| |Clinical Information for Health Care Workers |

| | |

| |All Health care personnel (HCP) should be vaccinated annually, including: |

| | |

| |Physicians |

| |Nurses |

| |Workers in both hospital and outpatient-care settings |

| |Medical emergency-response workers |

| |Home care workers |

| |Employees of nursing home and community based residential facilities with resident contact |

| |Students with client or resident contact |

| | |

| |ACIP Recommendations for Swine Flu (H1N1) monovalent (single virus) vaccine: |

| | |

| |If largest amount of vaccine is available, the following groups should be vaccinated: |

| |Pregnant women |

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

| |Health care and emergency medical services personnel |

| |Persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age, and |

| |People from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health |

| |disorders or compromised immune systems |

| |The groups listed above total approximately 159 million people in the United States |

| | |

| |Vaccine may become available in multiple shipments, so prioritize:  |

| |Pregnant women |

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

| |Health care and emergency medical services personnel with direct patient contact |

| |Children 6 months through 4 years of age |

| |Children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions |

|ACTION: |None. Information only. |

|Related | |

|REFERENCES: |Interim Guidance for Novel H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home |

| | |

| |Flu Clinic Locator: Find a clinic near you to get your flu vaccine |

| |Provided by the American Lung Association |

| | |

| |: Novel H1N1 Vaccination Recommendations |

| | |

| |Media and educational materials for seasonal flu will be posted on the Influenza Update section of the |

| |Department of Health (DOH) Website doh.FluNews with links to FluNews on the Immunization Program |

| |Child Profile Website. |

| | |

| |Swine flu information and materials available at: . There are fact|

| |sheets and other materials available in multiple languages |

| | |

| |Hand washing: |

| | |

| | |

| |Cover Your Cough: |

| | |

| | |

| | |

|ATTACHMENT(S): |DSHS HRD Correspondence 09-09: |

| |[pic] |

| |H1N1 (Swine Flu) FAQ: |

| |[pic] |

| |Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: What It Is? |

| |[pic] |

| |Flu and People with Certain Medical Conditions: |

| |[pic] |

| |Take Three Steps to Fight Flu: |

| |[pic] |

| | |

|CONTACT(S): |Candace (Candy) Goehring MN RN |

| |Unit Manager |

| |360-725-2562 |

| |goehrcs@dshs. |

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download