December 18, 2009
The latest Swine Flu data was released for last week and shows a decline in the number of cases for Comal County.  HOWEVER,  we are expecting a “peak” again in January just about the same time that the seasonal flu is at its’ peak.

There is an adequate supply of the H1N1 immunization in Comal County.  Most physicians have it in their offices, Walgreens has it for a cost of $20, and the Comal County Health Department has it and will bill Medicare for you.

My family and myself have all received the H1N1 immunization, including my 7 month old grandson.  I feel very comfortable with them receiving the vaccine and none of us have had any side effects.  We got it over a month ago.

Please consider your own situations and get the immunization if you feel it is needed.  Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.

Texas H1N1 Vaccine Update

The Texas Department of State Health Services continues to order the state's full allocation of the H1N1 vaccine as quickly as possible, with more than 1.5 million doses ordered as of yesterday. More orders and shipments will follow as doctors and clinics confirm their orders with DSHS.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has allocated about 2 million H1N1 vaccine doses to Texas. Some three-quarters of a million of those doses were allocated Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and today and are in the process of being allocated to Texas providers. A CDC report issued today on national shipments does not include orders processed after Wednesday afternoon and currently on the way to Texas.

Given the limited national supply, Texas is allocating vaccine to private practice providers, public and private hospitals, local health departments and DSHS regional offices to vaccinate those most at risk – pregnant women, children and health care workers who provide direct patient care.

The national supply still isn't adequate to meet the public demand. Texas will allocate more vaccine to other groups as it becomes more widely available. About 12,000 Texas providers have registered to receive the vaccine.

Texas Department of State Health Services
NEWS RELEASE 
October 6, 2009 

DSHS Provides Texas H1N1 Vaccine Update

A total of 142,400 doses of the H1N1 vaccine were earmarked for Texas in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s first weekly allocation to states announced last week.  Texas had expected to get 237,000 in the first allocation.

The bulk of the 142,400 doses for Texas will be sent to some pre-registered doctors, clinics and other providers to vaccinate healthy 2- and 3-year-olds, part of a priority group to receive the vaccine.  All of the doses are the FluMist brand nasal spray form of the vaccine.  FluMist is only approved for use in vaccinating people 2 years through 49 years of age who are not pregnant and do not have certain chronic health conditions.

That vaccine is expected to be received over the next two weeks as the selected, pre-registered providers confirm with DSHS that they still want the vaccine in the quantities allotted.

Some 10,600 of the 142,400 doses are being sent to local public health departments and some DSHS regional sites, but DSHS officials said the quantities are not enough for public vaccination clinics and that each local department can determine how best to use the limited, initial supply.

A few of the local health departments received the vaccine Monday.  State health officials had not expected any doses to be received in Texas till later this week at the earliest.

DSHS officials expect the weekly availability of the vaccine to be low for the first few weeks with volume predicted to increase later this month.  They are urging providers and the public to be patient.

DSHS will provide another update early next week to announce the final Texas vaccine allocation for this week.

Texas expects to receive 15 million doses of the vaccine by the end of January.

Updated September 30, 2009
The number of suspected Swine Flu cases in Comal County has doubled since our report from last week.  As of today, there are 377 suspected cases.  The Doctors’ offices are being overwhelmed with cases.  They are doing a “rapid test” for the novel A subtype H1N1.  If the test is positive for subtype A, then it is almost 99% sure to be a case of Swine flu.  Only those who are critically ill and hospitalized are having the complete Swine flu testing done which is sent to the CDC.

MOST CASES ARE IN SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN AND ARE MILD CASES!  If your child gets “flu like” symptoms and is not seriously ill, call your doctor’s office first before taking them in.  They can advise you what to do over the phone and call in any prescriptions that are needed.  The important things to do if your child is sick are:  LOTS OF FLUIDS, BEDREST, AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL.

I received the following news release from TDH this afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

Texas Department of State Health Services
NEWS RELEASE 
September 30, 2009 

Initial H1N1 Flu Vaccine Supply to Trickle In 

Texas Department of State Health Services officials report that the amount of H1N1 flu vaccine available for the state over the next few weeks will be low and are urging the public and health care providers waiting for it to be patient.

“We’ve been told that we’ll have about 15 million doses for Texas after all is said and done, but it won't be available all at once,” said Dr. David Lakey, DSHS commissioner.  “The vaccine will trickle in week to week, especially at first. It's a fluid situation driven primarily by how much vaccine the manufacturers produce each week.”

He said some 3.4 million doses of the vaccine had been projected for Texas by mid-October, but the latest estimates are that no more than 1.7 million doses will be available by then.  Weekly allotments are expected to be larger after mid-October.

Some 12,000 doctors and other health care providers in Texas have signed up to provide the vaccine.

Starting this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will tell DSHS and other states’ health departments how much vaccine is available for them to order for the week. DSHS then tells the CDC where to send it based on provider registration information, priority groups, vaccine formulation, geography and other factors.  It may be one to two weeks later before that vaccine is in the hands of providers.

“All of us will have to be patient and flexible as we meet this challenge,” Lakey said. “For example, pregnant women are one of the highest priority groups for vaccination, but the first vaccine available to us is FluMist.  Pregnant women should not receive FluMist.”

He said the first week’s allocation of about 237,000 doses of FluMist will go to registered providers to give to children 2 and 3 years of age.  Children are another high priority group.

Lakey said the total of 15 million doses should be enough vaccine to meet anticipated demand in Texas but that it could be late January before all doses are received.  He reminded Texans to get the seasonal flu shot, cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands often and stay home if sick.

(News Media Contact: Doug McBride, DSHS Press Officer, 512-458-7524.)

Updated September 30, 2009

DSHS’s latest flu report for the week ending September 26, classifies flu activity in Texas as “widespread.”  The “widespread” classification is used when there are increases in flu-like illnesses and recent lab confirmed flu cases in at least half of the state’s regions.

DSHS has confirmed 18 flu-associated pediatric deaths in Texas from the start of the 2008-2009 flu season last fall until now.

CDC’s flu-activity classifications range from no activity, to sporadic, local, regional, and widespread.

In Region 8 (Comal, Bexar County) there has been no increase in flu activity reported this week.

Dial 2-1-1 for Flu Advice

Texans can now dial 2-1-1 to receive over-the-phone medical guidance about what they should do if they or a family member have flu symptoms.

The State’s 2-1-1 health information hotline is now staffed with medical professionals who can provide information about managing flu symptoms and advice on when to seek medical care from a physician or emergency room.  The guidance is not intended to replace specific instructions people receive from their physicians.

The 2-1-1 staff can also provide general flu information and vaccine availability information for individuals and health care providers.  Calls are answered around the clock.  Callers are instructed to choose a language and then press “6” for flu information and guidance.

Planning assumptions for the implementation of the novel H1N1 vaccination program include:

·         Eventually there will be enough vaccine for every man, woman, and child over six months of age who would like to receive the vaccine.

·        Not all of the vaccine will be available at the same time, but rather, will become available over a period of time.

·        Until everyone has had the opportunity to obtain vaccine, certain individuals in our society will have priority over others to receive the vaccine first.  The list of priority groups may change as the disease progresses over time.

·        The federal government will be providing vaccine at no cost to persons in the United States.  Health insurance companies, Medicaid, and Medicare will likely reimburse providers for administering the vaccine to eligible individuals; others may be charged an out-of-pocket administration fee.

·        The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will coordinate the distribution of the vaccine at the federal level.

·        The Texas Department of State Health Services will coordinate the allocation and distribution of the vaccine in Texas.

·        Public health and private healthcare providers, including non-traditional providers like mobile mass vaccinators and schools, will partner together to implement the vaccination program to assure that all Texans have access to the vaccine.

·        Children between 6 months and 9 years of age:  Two doses of the H1N1 vaccine.

·        All persons 10 years of age and older:  One dose of the H1N1 vaccine.

·        Because the situation is fluid and ever-changing, all partners need to remain flexible.

·        H1N1 vaccination will co-occur with seasonal flu vaccination and administration of antivirals.

This is your chance to hear your community’s plan for a potential outbreak of the novel H1N1 virus.  You will hear from the head of the State Health Department, Regional Health Department Directors, our Local Health Department Director, and County Officials.

Please don’t miss this important event.  You will have the opportunity to have your questions answered during a question and answer period.

Thursday, October 8^th, 2009

6:00 p.m. till 7:30 p.m.

McKenna Events Center

(Overflow parking available at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church)