Weekly Flu Bulletin
October 7, 2009
The Metro Public Health Department began receiving shipments of the H1N1 flu vaccine in small amounts this week. We expect to receive increasing doses of vaccine in the coming weeks.
Early shipments are expected to be in small quantities of FluMist® nasal spray vaccine. At first, this will be offered to front line health care workers, especially those who are in direct daily contact with patients with symptoms of influenza.
If additional small shipments of vaccine are received, MPHD will make every effort to make appropriate H1N1 vaccine products available to highest risk groups (including pregnant women and young children) as quickly as possible. The FluMist® nasal spray vaccine is for healthy non-pregnant people aged 2-49.
When larger quantities and types of H1N1 vaccine are available, we will be offering the vaccine at four community H1N1 vaccine clinics. One of those clinics will be located at the Lentz Health Center. Pending approval of agreements by Metro Council, additional sites will include Hickory Hollow Mall, Tennessee State Fairgrounds, and Metro Park’s Hartman Regional Community Center. Each of these sites will be staffed to accommodate approximately 1,200 customers per day.
Pending availability of vaccine, our anticipated start date for these community clinics will be November 2nd.
The following groups of people will be encouraged to seek the vaccine at the community flu shot clinics or through other vaccine providers. These priority groups are based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- pregnant women (flu shot only)
- persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers),
- health-care and emergency medical services personnel
- persons 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.*
Data have shown that persons 65 years and older are less likely to get sick from H1N1 influenza. The vaccine will initially be available in limited quantities. For this reason, the first doses are recommended to go to those people who are more likely to become infected and ill. We expect to eventually have enough vaccine for anyone who wants it, but are requesting that persons over 65 not be in a hurry to receive H1N1 vaccine.
MPHD is working with Metro Public Schools to offer H1N1 flu vaccine to children and staff at elementary, middle and high schools in Davidson County. Parents are being contacted about the opportunity to have children immunized at school and children whose parents consent will receive the vaccine in the coming weeks.
Many of the usual providers of flu vaccine have ordered vaccine and will have it available. Community providers may charge an administration fee of under $20. However, all H1N1 vaccine provided by the Health Department will be offered free of charge.
MPHD is preparing to administer vaccine to as many as 130,000 people over approximately three months.
I invite you to visit the Health Department's website (health.nashville.gov) for information and the latest guidance for the community, including schools, employers, and faith based organizations. The Health Department also has a recorded community information telephone line 615-340-7775 with the latest information about seasonal and H1N1 flu.
Thank you for your commitment to a Healthy Nashville!
Bill Paul, M.D., M.P.H.
Director
Metro Public Health Department
Nashville/Davidson County