Preparation for Massive H1N1 Influenza Immunization Campaign Underway

VHCA (8/13/2009)

Virginia is gearing up for a massive H1N1 influenza vaccination campaign this fall.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) every state is developing a vaccine delivery plan and H1N1 vaccine will be procured and purchased by the federal government and made available to vaccinators at no cost.  The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services plans to provide needles, syringes, sharps containers and alcohol swabs to the vaccination sites.  Scientists are beginning clinical trials to gather critical data about influenza vaccines. A panel of outside experts will conduct a close review of the safety data from these trials to spot any safety concerns in real time. The trials are being conducted in a compressed timeframe in a race against the possible autumn resurgence of 2009 H1N1 flu infections that may occur as seasonal influenza virus strains begin to circulate widely.

Certain populations have been identified as priority groups for the H1N1 vaccine:

1. Pregnant women; 
2. Household contacts of children under 6 months old; 
3. Healthcare workers and emergency personnel; 
4. Children and young adults who are between the ages of 6 months and 24 years; and 
5. Non-elderly adults with conditions that make them high risk. (with the H1N1 virus, adults over the age of 60 may have protective immunity from prior related infections)

In the meantime, seasonal influenza vaccines will be available and is especially recommended this year. We encourage all long term care facilities to urge their employees and residents to be immunized for seasonal flu unless contraindicated.  Virginia’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response will be counting on nursing facilities to be sites for immunizations for their health care workers.  In the meantime, VHCA is working with the Department of Health in developing the H1N1 immunization plan and will notify members with specific information about pre-registering as an immunization site once it becomes available.