Commonground
Senior Moderator
Belmont, Mass. - As in the last update, this one is going to emphasize that Belmont?s Health Dept. is working closely with the Mass. Department of Public Health on vaccination clinics for both the SEASONAL FLU and the H1N1 influenza.
The seasonal flu shots will once again be targeted for older residents, children and those of any age with chronic illnesses. Health Departments have already started receiving flu vaccine and planning for seasonal flu clinics is underway. Residents are advised, as in recent years, to get a seasonal flu shot as soon as they have an opportunity. The MassPro website at http://flu.masspro.org can help to locate flu clinics in our area. The Health Department will announce the availability of seasonal flu clinics in the local newspaper, on the Web site and at the hotline number 617-993-2730 as soon as they are scheduled.
The Health Department is working closely with the School Department to make sure that a good line of communication exists so that teachers, parents and students understand what is expected due to the circulation of H1N1 influenza. We expect that there will be a vaccine for this type of flu this year and Massachusetts intends to have enough doses for every resident to receive the vaccine, probably with two vaccinations spaced three to four weeks apart. We are expecting the vaccine to be available in mid-October but that may be overly optimistic. The point is that when the vaccine is available, the Health and School Departments will have plans in place to distribute the vaccine. Pregnant women, family members of babies less than six months old, and health care workers will be the first priority groups. School children are likely going to be in the next priority category and it will be up to each community to determine the best way to distribute the vaccine. There will more than likely be a combination of regional clinics, school clinics and local health department clinics in order to get everyone vaccinated. A great deal of patience will be needed by residents as we work out all of the details. Be assured that you will be notified as soon as possible.
They are no longer reporting the number of cases in the same way so the numbers haven?t really changed and are not relevant at this point. As of August 6th people with influenza like illness (fever, cough and sore throat) can now return to normal activities 24 hours after the fever disappears (without the use of fever-reducing medications.) Fevers have been lasting from 2 to 4 days typically so the time one needs to stay out of circulation could be closer to 3 to 5 days instead of the mandatory 7 days that we originally stated. This new rule applies to schools and businesses, but DOES NOT APPLY to health care facilities where the stricter rule still applies. It is also highly suggested that the stricter rule apply in places such as day care facilities where very young susceptible individuals are present. Individual local communities can also apply the stricter measurers if a particular risk exists. If the disease turns out to be worse than we expect in the future, we may return to the seven day rule. Residents need to remember that this situation changes all the time and we must be prepared to make the necessary changes.
Testing is still being done only on individuals who have a greater chance of severe complications, such as those individuals with underlying chronic illness and those are the same individuals that may be treated with anti-viral medications. High risk groups for complications from the flu, including infants, children under two years of age, those with chronic illness and pregnant women should notify their physician if they start to have fever and other symptoms of flu-like illness. Any pregnant woman exhibiting flu-like symptoms should call her doctor immediately and start on anti-viral medication. That includes pregnant women who have been exposed to suspect, probable or confirmed cases. Early treatment with anti-viral medication is now strongly recommended for pregnant women.
Good cough etiquette and frequent hand washing are essential at all times! Please continue to follow these basic rules for good health: 1) wash hands frequently with warm water and soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available; 2) cough into your elbow or into a tissue so that bacteria and viruses do not get on your hands or spread into the air; 3) stay home when you are sick; 4) get plenty of sleep, exercise and good nutrition.
You can call the Massachusetts hotline with questions if you would like. Please go to the Web sites, if possible, and review all of the available information before calling the number: 1-877-211-6277.
You can expect the next update to be on Monday, September 21st unless there is important information that we must get to you before then. Helpful Web sites: http://www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu and http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/belmont/news/lifestyle/health/x1595423502/H1N1-swine-flu-update-Sept-8
The seasonal flu shots will once again be targeted for older residents, children and those of any age with chronic illnesses. Health Departments have already started receiving flu vaccine and planning for seasonal flu clinics is underway. Residents are advised, as in recent years, to get a seasonal flu shot as soon as they have an opportunity. The MassPro website at http://flu.masspro.org can help to locate flu clinics in our area. The Health Department will announce the availability of seasonal flu clinics in the local newspaper, on the Web site and at the hotline number 617-993-2730 as soon as they are scheduled.
The Health Department is working closely with the School Department to make sure that a good line of communication exists so that teachers, parents and students understand what is expected due to the circulation of H1N1 influenza. We expect that there will be a vaccine for this type of flu this year and Massachusetts intends to have enough doses for every resident to receive the vaccine, probably with two vaccinations spaced three to four weeks apart. We are expecting the vaccine to be available in mid-October but that may be overly optimistic. The point is that when the vaccine is available, the Health and School Departments will have plans in place to distribute the vaccine. Pregnant women, family members of babies less than six months old, and health care workers will be the first priority groups. School children are likely going to be in the next priority category and it will be up to each community to determine the best way to distribute the vaccine. There will more than likely be a combination of regional clinics, school clinics and local health department clinics in order to get everyone vaccinated. A great deal of patience will be needed by residents as we work out all of the details. Be assured that you will be notified as soon as possible.
They are no longer reporting the number of cases in the same way so the numbers haven?t really changed and are not relevant at this point. As of August 6th people with influenza like illness (fever, cough and sore throat) can now return to normal activities 24 hours after the fever disappears (without the use of fever-reducing medications.) Fevers have been lasting from 2 to 4 days typically so the time one needs to stay out of circulation could be closer to 3 to 5 days instead of the mandatory 7 days that we originally stated. This new rule applies to schools and businesses, but DOES NOT APPLY to health care facilities where the stricter rule still applies. It is also highly suggested that the stricter rule apply in places such as day care facilities where very young susceptible individuals are present. Individual local communities can also apply the stricter measurers if a particular risk exists. If the disease turns out to be worse than we expect in the future, we may return to the seven day rule. Residents need to remember that this situation changes all the time and we must be prepared to make the necessary changes.
Testing is still being done only on individuals who have a greater chance of severe complications, such as those individuals with underlying chronic illness and those are the same individuals that may be treated with anti-viral medications. High risk groups for complications from the flu, including infants, children under two years of age, those with chronic illness and pregnant women should notify their physician if they start to have fever and other symptoms of flu-like illness. Any pregnant woman exhibiting flu-like symptoms should call her doctor immediately and start on anti-viral medication. That includes pregnant women who have been exposed to suspect, probable or confirmed cases. Early treatment with anti-viral medication is now strongly recommended for pregnant women.
Good cough etiquette and frequent hand washing are essential at all times! Please continue to follow these basic rules for good health: 1) wash hands frequently with warm water and soap or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available; 2) cough into your elbow or into a tissue so that bacteria and viruses do not get on your hands or spread into the air; 3) stay home when you are sick; 4) get plenty of sleep, exercise and good nutrition.
You can call the Massachusetts hotline with questions if you would like. Please go to the Web sites, if possible, and review all of the available information before calling the number: 1-877-211-6277.
You can expect the next update to be on Monday, September 21st unless there is important information that we must get to you before then. Helpful Web sites: http://www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu and http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
http://www.wickedlocal.com/belmont/news/lifestyle/health/x1595423502/H1N1-swine-flu-update-Sept-8