Commonwealth Conversations: Public Health

Weekly Flu Report: November 5, 2009

Weekly Report: Download Weekly Report 11_5_09  (Download PDF Weekly Report 11_5_09)  

As illustrated in this weeks report, we continue to see dramatic increases in the number of cases of Influenza-like illness (ILI) across the state. This means that it is more important than ever for everyone to follow our flu prevention and control measures.

 

Not surprisingly, many schools are seeing an increase of H1N1 flu circulating and parents are, understandably, concerned about their children getting sick. We would like to share with you some information on how the Department of Public Health is working with administrators and school nurses across the state to help them prevent the spread of the flu.

 

Schools have put many effective measures in place and are actively taking steps to interrupt virus transmission. In addition, schools are screening all students for flu-like symptoms and are diligently monitoring absenteeism in both students and staff.

 

We are all committed to keeping schools open and functioning as usual, however, we recognize that on a case-by-case basis, some schools may need to consider closing. When making this decision, schools will take several factors into account including the extent to which ILI has impaired the school’s ability to perform its educational functions. Thus, a higher than usual absentee rate does not necessarily mean that a school should close.

 

We all agree that parents are a key partner in the fight against the flu. If your child does have the flu and is showing a fever, please do not give them fever reducing medication and send them to school. This exposes other students to illness and creates higher absentee rates. Also, if you child does stay home from school, do not let them go to other places where they could spread the flu virus to other people, such as after school programs, the mall, or sporting events. If you’re not sure whether to keep your child home, you can use the Flu Symptoms checklist on our website.

 

If your child is not sick, they should go to school. Keeping your healthy child away from school will not help better protect them from the virus. Remember, if there is flu present in your school, this means that there is also flu in your community.

 

Everyone can help prevent transmission by teaching both children and adults the basic flu prevention steps, including washing their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol based hand sanitizer, and covering their mouth when they cough or sneeze.

Calling all would-be runners!

Posted by:
Maya Mohan, Department of Public Health

Maya is the Physical Activity Coordinator for DPH and is a wannabe runner.

It’s almost the end of 2009 and I have a question for you.  Have you reached the fitness goal(s) you set for yourself?  (I suppose the first question should be, did you set a fitness goal to reach in the first place!).  Assuming the answer to the latter is yes, then I want you to think back and reflect on the experience.  Are you ready to start thinking about your next goal?  2010 is almost here, people!  

Personally, I’ve always, always wanted to be a runner.  I’ve also, for as long as I’ve lived in Boston, wanted to run the Boston Marathon.  I just read this article in the NY Times by Tara Parker-Pope about her transformational experience from couch potato to marathoner.  It is really inspiring… because like her, I will be one of those “plodders,” I imagine.  But is that a bad thing?  

You know from my past posts that I’ve been searching for motivation for my workouts, a reason to get re-energized. So, maybe 2010 will be the year I run a marathon?  To be honest, I’m nervous to make such a lofty commitment in a public forum like this.  But, then again, maybe that will help keep me honest!  And, if I do this, your encouragement will REALLY be important in helping me reach my goal.   For all the runners out there, any words of advice for me?  For all other fitness enthusiasts and newbies, what will your fitness goals for 2010 be? It’s not too early to start thinking about it!  I’d love to hear from you.  

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La violencia doméstica

Aunque usted no lo sepa, alguna persona en su vida puede estar pasando por una situación de violencia en el hogar –puede ser un amigo, o un compañero de trabajo, o incluso un pariente.

Si usted o un ser querido es víctima de la violencia doméstica, no está solo. En todo Massachusetts hay programas que ofrecen servicios gratuitos y confidenciales a las víctimas.

En esta edición de LA NOTA DE SALUD, hablamos con Verónica Robles sobre el problema de la violencia doméstica y dónde acudir para recibir ayuda. Además, mostramos un mensaje de la primera dama del Estado, Diane Patrick, sobre el tema. El video fue producido por la organización de combate a la violencia doméstica, Jane Doe en conjunto con el Departamento de Salud Pública de Massachusetts.

Por favor, infórmese sobre este tema y sepa cómo pedir ayuda. Puede llamar a cualquier hora del día o de la noche a SafeLink, la línea telefónica directa para casos de violencia doméstica para todo Massachusetts. Ahí le atenderán consejeros capacitados que pueden brindar asistencia en español. Llame sin cargo a SafeLink al 1-877-785-2020.

Weekly Flu Report, October 29; plus Advice for Pregnant Women

Weekly Report: Download Weekly Report 10_29_09 (Download PDF)

We have heard from many pregnant women who have been unable to locate the H1N1 vaccine, even though they are a priority group to be vaccinated. DPH understands your frustration and would like to provide some advice on how you can work together with your health care provider to get vaccinated.

There are over 4,000 healthcare providers in the state who have registered to administer the H1N1 vaccine.  Virtually all obstetrical practices who have registered to administer vaccine have received some quantities of vaccine, with much more to come. If your OB/GYN is registered to receive vaccine,  they have probably already received their first shipment and are now waiting to receive their next allocation. It might make sense to inquire about their plan to offer it to patients when more quantities arrive. 

However, not all obstetrical practices in Massachusetts are registered to receive the vaccine. This poses a problem for women who go to these providers and who wish to be vaccinated. 

If your doctor is not currently registered to administer H1N1 vaccine, you might recommend that they do so through the DPH website at the DPH vaccine provider registry . Registration is fast and easy, and continues to be open for new registrants. You may also ask your provider to refer you to a medical associate who is enrolled to administer the vaccine.

Please remember that while we encourage all residents to utilize the comments section on this blog, DPH will no longer be able to respond to specific questions and comments.

More Details About the H1N1 Vaccine Distribution Program

By the end of this week, more than 660,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine will have been distributed to providers in Massachusetts – just the tip of the iceberg of the total 3.5 million doses of vaccine that we expect to receive this flu season. However, to put things in perspective, those 660,000 doses are enough to vaccinate just 10% of the state’s population. This is not where we expected to be at this point, based on what we were initially told by the federal government, and it creates a difficult and frustrating situation for everyone, especially those people at greatest risk of complications from the H1N1 flu.

These initial limited supplies have been prioritized for distribution to the health care providers who serve the populations at the highest risk of H1N1 flu – pregnant women, children, and caregivers of infants less than 6 months old. It has also been prioritized for health care workers with direct patient contact in light of their vital role in keeping the health care system working.  DPH believes this targeted distribution approach, using health care providers who serve these high risk groups every day, is the most effective way to ensure the vaccine gets to those who need it most as quickly as possible.
 
As vaccine supplies arrive in larger quantities, more and more providers will receive vaccine for their patients.  Vaccine will then be targeted to young adults up to 24 years old and people 25-64 with chronic health problems.  Eventually, flu clinics for the general public will begin.  However, they won’t be scheduled until there are large enough quantities of vaccine available to support them. Based on current projections from the Centers for Disease Control, these flu clinics will not likely be feasible until December. When they have been scheduled, you can find one near you at http://flu.masspro.org.  It is important to note that no H1N1 clinics are listed at this time because there is not enough vaccine to run them.

This vaccine supply situation is complex and confusing.  We continue to receive requests for further details on how vaccine arrives in the state, the role of DPH in that process, and how providers receive word on upcoming vaccine availability.  Here’s how the system works:

Programming Note: Weekly Flu Report: October 29, 2009

Just a brief note to look for the next Weekly Flu Report tomorrow morning -- the report has been slightly delayed but will be posted as soon as possible on Friday.

Grupos prioritarios para la vacuna H1N1

Quisiéramos hacer una aclaración sobre cómo se está distribuyendo la vacuna contra la gripe H1N1 entre los grupos de prioridad a través del Estado.

Cuando el CDC hizo la lista original de estos grupos, nos recomendaron que si llegase a haber una escasez de la vacuna un nuevo orden de prioridad debería ser establecido.  Lamentablemente, debido a una temporada gripal sin precedentes —en la que se están fabricando dos tipos de vacunas diferentes— ha habido interrupciones en la producción y la distribución de la vacuna contra la gripe H1N1. Sólo hemos recibido un pequeño porcentaje del total de dosis que el gobierno federal le ha asignado a nuestro Estado.

Según recomendaciones del CDC, este suministro limitado de la vacuna está destinado a personas consideradas de alto riesgo, como las mujeres embarazadas, niños, personas que cuidan a niños pequeños y profesionales de salud que tengan contacto directo con enfermos. A medida que tengamos más dosis, la vacunación se extenderá a los demás grupos de prioridad, lo que incluye a jóvenes de hasta 24 años de edad y personas entre los 25 y 64 años con condiciones de salud subyacentes, como el asma o la diabetes.

Esperamos tener más de un millón de dosis de la vacuna contra la gripe H1N1 hasta fines de noviembre.  A medida que los cargamentos lleguen, estaremos trabajando constantemente para asegurarnos de que las vacunas disponibles estén al alcance de los grupos de prioridad. Agradecemos su paciencia y comprensión.

Grupos prioritários na vacinação contra gripe A H1N1

Gostaríamos de esclarecer algumas coisas sobre a distribuição da vacina contra a gripe A H1N1 entre os grupos prioritários do Estado.

Quando o CDC inicialmente determinou os grupos prioritários, eles também recomendaram que caso houvesse falta de vacina uma nova ordem de prioridade deveria ser estabelecida.  Lamentavelmente, devido a uma temporada anual de gripe sem precedentes – e a necessidade de fabricar dois tipos diferentes da vacina – houve interrupções na fabricação e distribuição da vacina contra a gripe A H1N1. Somente recebemos uma pequena percentagem do número total de doses que o governo federal tinha inicialmente destinado para Massachusetts.

Segundo recomendações do CDC, esse pequeno número de vacinas está reservado para pessoas consideradas dentro do principal grupo prioritário na vacinação. Isto é, mulheres grávidas, crianças, pessoas que cuidam de crianças pequenas e profissionais da área da saúde que têm contato direto com doentes.  Na medida em que os carregamentos da vacina forem chegando, a vacinação irá abranger o resto do grupo de prioridade, que inclui jovens até a idade de 24 anos e pessoas entre os 25 e 64 anos de idade que tiverem condições de saúde debilitantes, como asma e diabete.

Esperamos receber mais de um milhão de doses da vacina contra a gripe A H1N1 até o final de novembro.  Conforme a vacina chegar, continuaremos trabalhando para que a vacina que estiver disponível chegue a todos aqueles dentro desses grupos prioritários.  Agradecemos sua paciência e compreensão.

H1N1 Vaccine Priority Groups

We want to provide some clarification on how the H1N1 vaccine is being distributed amongst priority groups across the state.

When the CDC originally outlined these groups, they also recommended that if the vaccine was initially only available in limited qualities that these groups would need to be sub-prioritized. Unfortunately, due to an unprecedented flu season involving the need to produce 2 different types of vaccines, there have been interruptions in the production and distribution of the H1N1 vaccine and we have only received a small percentage of our total allocation from the federal government.

Based on the CDC recommendations, this limited supply is reserved for people at especially high risk for flu, which includes pregnant women, children, caregivers of infants and healthcare workers with direct patient contact. As supplies grow, this will expand to include the additional priority groups of young adults up to the age of 24, and people between the ages of 25 and 64 with underlying health conditions like asthma and diabetes.

We expect the number of doses of H1N1 vaccine in the state to exceed 1 million by the end of November. As it arrives, we will continue to work to ensure that the vaccine that is available goes to these high priority groups. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

To Eat Meat or Not to Eat Meat, That is the Question . . .

 Kara Ghiringhelli, Department of Public Health

 

Kara Ghiringhelli is a Nutrition Education Specialist at DPH

Vegetarian diets are becoming more and more popular. For one reason, the recent economic downturn is causing people to look for creative ways to save money. One way includes eating meat-less meals. Another added-bonus is that most vegetarian diets are lower in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol and higher in fiber than non-vegetarian diets. If you decide to adopt a completely meat-free diet, it is important to remember to eat a balanced diet and to be aware of nutrient deficiencies like protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and zinc.

Many of us did not grow up eating vegetarian meals, so it’s understandable why we may not know how to cook hearty, savory, meat-less meals. An easy and fun introduction to vegetarian cuisine and products already available in grocery stores is this weekend’s Boston Vegetarian Food Festival, October 31st and November 1st at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center. Some of the country’s top speakers and chefs will be there alongside vegetarian food providers giving free food samples, tips, and recipe ideas. Even if you aren’t considering being a vegetarian, but would like to learn how to make healthy meat-less meals, this is a great place to start.

If you make meat-less meals, do you have tips or recipe ideas to share? We’d love to hear from you!

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