For Health Providers
H1N1 Vaccine Program
Posted: August 28, 2009
To: Healthcare Providers
From: Mark Netherda, MD, Deputy Health Officer, 565-4567
Hello colleagues,
The vaccine for Pandemic H1N1 is in production and expected to be available in the coming weeks. In order to protect the community from the more severe impacts of this disease, the California Department of Public Health is launching a comprehensive mitigation program. The program will utilize community health care providers to cooperate with Public Health to reach those most at risk of serious complications and those who care for the very young and the ill. Healthcare providers will be relied upon to provide health education for their patients and to protect their employees from exposure to the disease.
As medical providers, perhaps the most critical role we can play to prevent the spread of the virus is by participating in the delivery of the H1N1 vaccine, scheduled to be released for use in mid-October 2009. Each medical provider is urged to order vaccine and vaccine supplies, free of charge, to administer to their patients. The vaccine will likely need to be given in two doses, 3-4 weeks apart. The targeted populations for vaccination are:
- pregnant women
- persons who live with or provide care for infants aged < 6 months
- healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
- children and young adults aged 6 months-24 years, and
- persons aged 25-64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications
Beginning September 1, 2009 California Department of Public Health's Pandemic H1N1 Vaccine website will go live. The website will allow Local Health Departments, Providers, and Public Health Partners to pre-register for H1N1 vaccine, order vaccine, and report H1N1 vaccine usage. The website will also post updated vaccine information and available resources.
Sonoma County Public Health will conduct mass vaccination clinics on 3 Saturdays during the fall at sites and times to be announced soon. We hope to reach those who have no medical home, those without insurance and those who otherwise didn't access vaccines through their primary care providers.
Please visit the CDPH website when it becomes live and sign up to be an H1N1 vaccinator. Your assistance could prevent the further spread of this pandemic and potentially save the lives of our neighbors.
For more information please visit the CDPH website: www.cdph.ca.gov and the Sonoma County website: www.sonoma-county.org.
Starting by September 1, 2009, go to www.CalPanFlu.org
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