Health Care

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West Virginians and Americans have been facing a tough flu season - having to deal with both the normal flu and the H1N1 virus. My family has been affected and I know that feeling of worry and the desire to do everything possible to keep healthy.

On July 29, 2009, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) - an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - recommended that the H1N1 flu vaccine be made available first to the following five groups:

• Pregnant women
• Health care workers and emergency medical responders
• People caring for infants under 6 months of age
• Children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years
• People aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes)

As more shipments arrive, they will be made available to all West Virginians.
West Virginians can receive up-to-date information by:

• Calling the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health (24 hours a day, days a week) at (304) 558-5358 or (800) 423-1271
• Visiting the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources flu website at: http://www.wvflu.org/
• Visiting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services flu website at: http://www.flu.gov
• Visiting the CDC's flu websites at: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ and http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

Given the growing concern of West Virginia residents about swine flu and seasonal flu vaccines, I wanted to pass along a few additional details from my recent conversation with the CDC:

• West Virginia has been allocated a specific number of H1N1 vaccine doses. This allocation is made using a population-based formula.  The allocation amount changes frequently; it is increased every time more doses of the vaccine become available.
• West Virginia has ordered a specific number of H1N1 vaccine doses based on the amount allocated. West Virginia will continue to order H1N1 doses on a rolling basis.
• Production of the H1N1 vaccine has increased, and the CDC expects to be able to get additional H1N1 doses out to the states more quickly in the coming weeks.
• Production of the seasonal flu vaccine has ended. There will be no further production of the seasonal flu vaccine, but there will be further distribution of season flu doses into November. 
• West Virginia, like all states, has agreements with providers statewide to administer the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines. Once the West Virginia Bureau of Health and Human Resources receives new vaccine doses, it immediately sends those doses to participating providers. Within the H1N1 priority groups, providers are working to reach those at highest risk as much as possible. A list of providers can be found here: http://www.wvflu.org/providers.html
• Local health departments are working to provide public clinics where at-risk residents can receive H1N1 vaccinations. They are also working to vaccinate through more targeted outreach, specifically at day cares, schools, and universities.

In addition to the vaccine, all of us should remember to use common sense to protect from the virus. Always cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, wash your hands with soap and water frequently, and stay home if you are ill- at least for 24 hours after your fever is gone. These everyday actions can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like the flu.