Feedback

Thanks for visiting our feedback post!  While we'll work hard to cover a wide variety of public health topics, there may be some things you'd like to hear more about or you might just have a comment or tip you'd like to share with us and others.  Please be assured that comments on this post are monitored just like the rest.  We want this blog to be as relevant and helpful to you as possible, so we welcome constructive input.

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Comments

[Tracy Rose]

Hi,

Healthline is interested in contributing a guest post to publichealth.blog.state.ma.us. We would be open to contributing any blog that would be of interest to your readers. Healthline bloggers have been featured on a variety of sites including:

Washington Times: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/tango-mind-and-emotion/2012/aug/10/how-healthy-choices-easy/
Natural News: http://www.naturalnews.com/036515_diabetes_strawberries_prevention.html
Patch.com: http://strongsville.patch.com/blog_posts/where-and-what-to-eat-in-cleveland-to-beat-the-winter-blues

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Warm Regards,
Tracy

DPH RESPONDS --- Thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately, our policy states guest bloggers cannot contribute to the DPH blog.

[Stu]

Please post information about incidence of whooping cough (pertussis) in Massachusetts. Both my partner and I have it and it is frustrating not to see any information about the fact that it is occurring in the state. Generic information about vaccination is not especially helpful. Thanks. ------------- DPH RESPONDS: Thanks for the comment! We have just posted something on pertussus which you can find here: http://publichealth.blog.state.ma.us/2012/12/pertussis-whooping-cough-learn-the-facts-and-get-vaccinated-.html

[hilly]

I got a health safety net last year but i didnt got any dental facilities .when i went dental{cambridge dental,mystric dental} they told me. "we cannt used health safety net". what a reason? i ve problem of tooth ache plz, tell me, where i can used it ?

In order to receive dental care covered by the Health Safety Net (HSN), you will need to be seen by a dental professional working at a federally qualified community health center. Since you don't mention where in the state you live, you can find out what the closest community health center is to your home by looking in our Directory located at www.mass.gov/dph/oralhealth Look for the Directory under topic area "Fact Sheets and Resources". Not all dental procedures will be covered by the HSN, so be sure to discuss what is covered with the dentist treating you. Let us know if we can be more helpful...

[E.Hurley]

Obesity is a real health concern and I appreciate the message and change that DPH is trying to accomplish. That being said, we are missing the boat when go to such lengths to put the word out and encourage Mass in Motion yet the Commonwealth lets the GIC Health Insurance companies cut the health club reimbursements. If we are leading by example then I hope that issues such as this can be addressed.

[amy abeyta]

I was so pleased that my husband and I had our BCBS of MA premiums lowered because of Deval. However, I just received a notice that they will return to the previous cost. It was $880 and lowered to $740 at the beginning of the year. It had been lowered because of the court battle initiated by Deval. I just opened a letter from BCBS of MA that our previous cost is being reinstated. I was going to vote for Deval and now I am not so sure. I had lung cancer this year. I am 41 years old and my costs for additional x-rays and cat scans that are not covered by BCBS keep adding up. My husband is not even a democrat and he was ready to vote for Deval too. Why should a couple pay $880 a month just to get decent healthcare? It is a terrible crime. What happened Deval?

[Lorrie- resident Adams, MA]

Regarding the health care reform, specifically Massachusetts reform. As a resident, I initally didn't agree that it should be mandatory for a person to obtain health care insurance, due to the fact that one may need to choose to financially allot funds elsewhere in their life. Unfortunately, having a health problem myself and unable to afford healthcare on my own, I was grateful that I qualified for Commonwealth Care. Initially the process to apply was fairly simple with help from a local community healthcare center. The first year of coverage went smoothly. I never ran into obstacles obtaining healthcare, finding doctors, or obtaining prescriptions. Upon my annual review, however, was when the system showed it's flaws. In the questionairre sent to review my eligiblity, acceptable questions regarding income, job status, and eligablity to obtain coverage through my employer were asked. My employer does offer coverage, unfortunately, they only contribute 10 percent of the cost, the other 90%, would need to be paid by myself. I cannot currently affort the premium, which would be over 20 percent of my income. Therefore, I included a letter, along with my current paystubs to clarify the situation I was in. I really did not foresee having any issues continuing to recieve care under the commonwealth care plan. Boy, was I wrong. In response to my questionaire, I recieved another form asking how much my employer contibuted to their plan. (I think I already let them know that). Nontheless, I filled the form out and returned it only to, 3 weeks later, be sent a letter stating that I failed to return the form, and my coverage was ending. I phoned the MassHealth office, who referred me to call the Commonwealth Care office, who referred me to phone the Exemptions office, who informed me that they did not recieve the letter and that they would send me the form again. Again, I filled out the form, and sent it in, 2 seperate copies, just in case. Finally I recieved a letter stating that I was indeed qualified for Commonwealth Care and to phone them for information about re-enrolling. I phoned them, chose a providor, obtained what my premium would be and where to send it. The gentleman I spoke to directed me to mail in my payment by the end of the month and that I would be covered July 1st( this was early June). I did as instructed and send out my payment on the 24th of the month. I recieved a bill on June 26th, date June 24th for the amount of my premium and a due date of June 25th. I called regarding this and was told that because they did not recieve my payment before June 25th, I wouldn't be covered until Aug 1st. I was infuriated!! Not only did I go 1 month without coverage, now it is gonna be 2 months. The whole idea of this system is to help people afford healthcare isn't it? So, explain to me why I had to pay $280.00 in prescriptions, and pay for a doctor's visit out of pocket, and put off another specialists appointment til I could afford it or had coverage? I am an educated and thankfully patient person. I am concerned that maybe there are some citizens that are not, and whom would not be vigilent in pusuing what they rightfully qualify for. Those people may be going without coverage all together, coverage in which they need and qualify for, but because of the system, they fell through the cracks. Are those people not filling prescriptions? Are they not seeing a doctor for care when they need it? Are they just holding out til an emergency then heading to the ER?
Luckily, I am not seriously ill. Luckily, I don't have children I support. Luckily, I managed to eke through these two months using 2 paychecks out of 8 to pay for my healthcare.
We need to work on the system, 2 months without coverage when you qualify for it, just doesn't work for anyone. If it is so important that we all must have coverage? Why isn't it a concern that anyone goes without it for ANY amount of time? It shouldn't happen.

[Donna]

Today I received a note stating my child is Overweight. Although I understand why you implemented this program I also believe for a 9 yr. old girl to hear or see that they are considered "overweight" no matter how you word it can cause serious damages to your childs self esteem . My daughter is a sports enthusiast. She is on Swim Team and swims 2-3 days a week for 2-2.5hrs,she is on Travel Soccer which practices twice a week for 1.5 hrs and games one game a week and she plays Club soccer which also practices twice a week for 1.5 hrs with a game once a week. She is the fastest sprinter on both her soccer teams and continues to improve her swimming by knocking off time. If this is a child who is considered overweight than I am confused. She is SOLID MUSSEL. There must be something that can be done that takes the mussel into consideration as oppossed to stating that my child is Overweight. I find this to be quite offensive and as usual the State wasting our money and time without researching the program enough to ensure there are no psycological damages that are endured by our children.

[Judith Raymond]

Thank you DPH, I love this site, I have submitted questions to the nutrition and dental areas and received quick, through answers. Please keep up the good and helpful work.

[RICARDO RODRIGUEZ CID]

This is a wonderful site! It's very helpful. Thank you for your continued effort to inform the public and health professionals about Public Health.

Ricardo Rodríguez Cid
MD MPH

[skt]

The US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, has just signed a decree granting vaccine makers total legal immunity from any lawsuits that result from any new “Swine Flu” vaccine. Moreover, the $7 billion US Government fast-track program to rush vaccines onto the market in time for the Autumn flu season is being done without even normal safety testing. Is there another agenda at work in the official WHO hysteria campaign to declare so-called H1N1 virus—which has yet to be rigorously scientifically isolated, characterized and photographed with an electron microscope—the scientifically accepted procedure—a global “pandemic” threat?

[karen cosme]

Hello and thank you for your continued effort to inform the public about H1N1. What I want to know is why there is no mandated listings of H1N1 flu immunization clinics/distributions. If the Department of Public Health is receiving supplies of H1N1 vaccines and knows how these supplies are allocated, why aren't there public notices by the state, the city/town, or both as to when the flu immunization clinics will be held or which facilities have received them? If the H1N1 flu is considered a public health crisis, then the minimum the Public Health Department should do is notify 'the public' when a clinic will be held. You post statistics via reports from various locations throughout the state, so you can do the reverse in this situation - if you are the primary distribution source, allotment lists should be disseminated to the public, even if it just shows that a specific school, hospital, or business received the only tiny batch that came into the state that day. Thanks again.

[Carrie Green]

Hi, I am a 61 year old with severe asthma, I have been hospitalized for pneumonia three times in the last four years, prednisone dependent and can't find the H1N1 vaccine.My pulmonary Doc is in Rhode Island--call back in January. Primary Doc's office is immunizing only children under 9 and pregnant women. Is no one using the CDC guidelines for those who are at most risk? My grandchildren can't get the vaccine either. They have pediatricians in Rhode Island and attend school in Mass. They have fallen through the cracks since Rhode Island has used all of their allotted vaccine to immunize the kids at school clinics. Everyone has told me to be patient and wait-- but the virus waits for no one. I am scared to go out of my house or to come in contact with anyone. I hope the situation gets better soon.

[Kelsey]

My daughter is 13 months old. i brought her in to get the h1n1 shot and asked if i could get one too. they said i will probably be able to make an appointment in about a month. then, they told me that because she had received her "1st flu shot over a month ago" she needed to get her second dose of it now along with the h1n1. THEN, they said that she'd need to come back for a second h1n1 shot in a month. i've never heard anything about anyone having to get 2 doses of these shots.

[karen]

Where do mothers/fathers of children under six months old fit into the priority list of those who should get the H1N1 vaccine? Are they considered healthcare workers?? otherwise I don't see them mentioned on the Mass.gov website

[Judy Trainor]

It is difficult to remain calm when you see a very real threat to your family. My grandson is a high risk child with asthma and low immune issues, he has still not been able to get a flu shot even though flu is now in our community and in his school. This child often ends up being hospitalized from a simple cold and so the threat to him is very real. Now, to add insult to injury we are hearing that product that should have gone to high risk people has found it's way to wall street instead. Sorry if this sounds like an alarmist to anyone but, yes I am afraid!

[Mary]

http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinicians/pdf/adultalgorithm.pdf

After reading the above link I wonder why my doctor is not aware that one can have the H1N1 without a fever. I have all the other listed symptoms
(6 days now) and when I called the Dr.'s office I was told that, even though my illness matched the flu , it could not be the flu because I don't have a fever. Also, I am a teacher in MA, and students are being sent home only if they have a fever. I've been told they are following the CDC guidelines. Will you be sending out updated information with new guidlines to the physicians and public health officials in MA so they will recognize that a lack of fever is not an automatic assurance that one does not have the H1N1flu?

[Julie]

I am trying to just get the seasonal flu vaccine and so far I have been unable to get the shot. I am a handicap person and also in one of the high-risk categories and have yet to find out where to go to get vaccinated. I have numerous doctor's and not one of them has the flu vaccine available. One of my doctor's receptionists actually told me to go to CVS or Walgreen's or any pharmacy to get the shot. First of all, I tried that way and still the vaccine is not available. Every pharmacy I called not "ONE" had the vaccine available. I am very stressed out over this whole thing. I shouldn't be going to a pharmacy to get a vaccine in the first place. I have "NEVER" had an issue with get this annual vaccine. We pay a lot of money for our health care insurance and I expect that "at least" one of my doctor's to have this vaccine available in their offices. I think what is going on is absolutely Disgusting!!! If you are one of the 'priority' cases - where do you direct your inqueries to get the vaccine that supposedly is prioritized for such special groups?

[KLD]

I am the mother of a 22 month old with asthma, and I have not been able to get my child vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. I find the feedback that this is due to manufacturing delays frustrating, especially when I see news stories and hear directly for health professionals that healthy adults (at lower risk) are being vaccinated. Despite the fact that high-risk priority patients (of which my child is one) have been identified, it seems that available vaccine has been distributed with no logic to practices without high-risk patients, leaving those who need the vaccine most unprotected. I find this maddening and unacceptable and someone should be held responsible for the mismanagement.

[Christine A. Westgate]

I personally am not satified the way the H1N1 vaccination distribution has been handled thus far. For starters I am out- raged at reports that prisoners were vaccinated 1st. Yes they live in a crowded environment but a controled one. Why not "control" it further by discontinuing visiting until , the high risk law abiding public gets their vaccines!!!!
Furthermore, my pediatrician's office FINALLY got the H1N1 but in a mist. To me this does not make sense either. My 6 y/o daughter with a history of respiratory issues,( putting at high risk) can not have the mist only the vaccine in shot form (neither can I for the same reason, or my mom with stage 111 lung cancer or my immuncompromised sibling).

Please help me make sense of this!!!!

[D]

Bottom line - where do priority groups go for vaccinations? Not the mist, the vaccination. I'm watching news segments about pregnant women who nearly died and lost their unborn babies because of H1N1. I'm fed up and I want to know why we've had it reamed into us that we need this vaccination only to be brushed off when we dare to ask WHERE TO GO FOR IT! By the time it is available we'll all be in the ICU.

[Tine]

I appreciate all the information on the various DPH sites - but it seems to miss some basic 'how to.' I am in one of the high-risk categories (pregnancy) and have yet to find out where to go to get vaccinated. I have tried my doctor's office but they don't know when or even if they will be getting H1N1 vaccine. If you are one of the 'priority' cases - where do you direct your inqueries to get the vaccine that supposedly is prioritized for such special groups?

[Jay Jones]

Are we sure there is really a shortage of swine flu vaccine or could it be that the well connected are getting it first and we are just being told there is a shortage? Is there a coverup, first we're being told there will be plenty of vaccine available then when reports of the illness become steady and fears of the pandemic more acute, we are now told there is a shortage of 90%?

[Alyssa Hinkley]

I am the mother of a 2.5 year old, and am being encouraged by my pediatricians office to get my son vaccinated against H1N1. I fully intend to do so, but wanted to avoid the intranasal mist because it is a "live" virus. When I suggested that I would be waiting to vaccinate until an injectible form became available, i was advised to take what I could get. I do intend to get the mist, but since he is so yound, i know he needs two doses, 4 weeks apart. Do I have to give him another mist dose, or will it be safe to offer him his second dose as an injectible, if I can find it?

[Susan Taylor]

I have two children that I want to have immunized. One child is 3 and possibly asthmatic (he is still to young for an accurate diagnosis), the other is 10 months old. They are currently on a waitlist at their pediatricitions office to recieve both the seasonal flu and H1N1 shots, since the office does not have any more doses. Their pediatriation also informed us that being on a waitlist will not garauntee that they will recieve the shots, due to availabity.

Where else can have them immunized? Local pharamacies, and our town will not do it because of their age, yet they are both in the high risk category. Are there any other options?

[ElaineWhite]

I am a teacher in a public school. I also have a teenager with asthma. I am trying to sort through all the information regarding the swine flu. Although I have every intention of getting my children vaccinated, I am concerned about the spread of the flu prior to the availability of the vaccine.

Why is the information regarding the swine flu so contradictory sometimes? One day, the news will tell you that the swine flu is nothing to worry about. The next day, the news reports say that 28 children have died in the last two weeks! What is the real truth? Is this something that we really need to be concerned about? If so, are we going to be diligent about closing schools when the flu hits so we can spare our precious children from going through this nightmare? It just can't be both ways - if the flu is deadly to any child - we must take whatever measures we can to protect our children. If children are dying from this virus, we need to have a plan of action that goes into force BEFORE we start losing children to this dreadful disease!!

What is the action plan for schools if and when this disease hits, and what will the criteria be for closing schools? Also, who is monitoring the schools to ensure that accurate and proper reporting procedures are being followed?
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DPH RESPONDS: Thank you for your questions and we appreciate your concerns. In order to limit the spread of influenza, DPH has recommended a policy focused on keeping all students and staff with symptoms of influenza out of school and related school activities during their period of illness and recuperation, when they are infectious to others. The goal is to keep schools open and functioning as usual. You can find additional information for schools, schools administrators and teachers, including a Fall 2009 Influenza Guidance for Schools which includes guidance specifically on “Control and Surveillance Measures for all Schools”, on our website at www.mass.gov/flu.

[William Doherty]

It is very unclear to me how to differentiate H1N1 flu from the seasonal flu.
It seems as though it is only after normal seasonal flu symptoms become life threatening that they can be taken seriously as being H1N1.
I think most people would prefer to identify and address H1N1 before it becomes life threatening.
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DPH RESPONDS: Seasonal flu is caused by different flu viruses than H1N1 flu and occurs every year, most often during the winter and early spring. Because H1N1 is a new virus, our bodies have not built up any resistance to it. That is why so many people may get sick. Seasonal flu most severely affects people 65 years and older while H1N1 is currently being seen more often in children and young adults between the ages of 5 and 24 years old. You can find more information on our website at www.mass.gov/flu.

[Susan E. Gallagher]

Thanks to all of the public health workers who have been working so hard to debunk media-generated myths about the H1N1 vaccine. Yesterday, Dr. Doug Kamerow gave an extremely clear commentary on NPR that explained why it is essential for everyone to reject groundless fears and get vaccinated ("Debate Over H1N1 Vaccine? There Shouldn't Be One"). After demolishing the doubts that have been raised by untrustworthy news outlets and web sites, Kamerow concluded: "Bottom line? The pandemic flu vaccine is safe, effective, cheap (or free), and necessary. Unless you're allergic to eggs, when it becomes available in your area, make sure you get it, and make especially sure your kids do." You can access the transcript or listen to Kamerow on NPR's web site or get it by searching "Kamerow flu" on Google News.

Congrats to Public Health and other agencies for making so much timely and accurate information available on mass.gov.

[Mary]

I looked at the estimated H1N1 vaccine allocations in Mass. My question concerns the tail end of the priority groups. I don't understand why the target group of adults with high risk conditions ends at 64 and does not include all individuals with high risk conditions. Are healthy adults 64 years of age at more risk than individual 65+ that have a high risk condition? MDPH stats show that 1.2% of H1N1 cases are 65+ and that 59% of them were hospitalized. The stats also show that 1.5% of seasonal flu cases are 65+. Interestingly, the age distribution of H1N1 cases and seasonal flu cases is not radically different. Why then is it VERY important that seniors get the seasonal flu vaccine, but not apparently as important for them to get the H1N1 vaccine? -----------------------------
DPH RESPONDS: Thank you for your questions. There are two main reasons why people age 65 and older are not included in the groups recommended to get the initial doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine:

1. People age 65 and older are least likely to get sick with this virus, and,
2. There will be limited amounts of vaccine available at first, so the first doses are recommended to go to those who are most likely to get infected and become very ill.

There has been very little 2009 H1N1 illness in people 65 and older since the 2009 H1N1 virus emerged. Studies of who is most likely to be infected with 2009 H1N1 show that people 65 and older are the least likely to get sick with this virus. However, the CDC’s priority for people 65 and older is to have them get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible while we are waiting for more doses of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Seasonal flu viruses are expected to circulate along with 2009 H1N1 viruses this season. People age 65 and older are at increased risk for complications from seasonal influenza compared to younger people and are recommended for annual seasonal flu vaccines.
That being said, we anticipate that we will have plenty of both seasonal and H1N1 vaccines and everyone who wants to be vaccinated will have the opportunity to do so.

[Linns]

Comment: Is this a premeditate excuse to discredit real Vaccine injury? ---

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One million heart attacks, 700,000 strokes and 900,000 miscarriages -- U.S. public health officials want Americans to know these will happen every single year with or without a swine flu vaccine campaign.

Yet this year, they know a significant number will be blamed on the H1N1 vaccine, which will roll out within weeks, and they are struggling to be ready.

They expect an avalanche of so-called adverse event reports, which are reports of death, illness or other health trauma that occur within two weeks after receiving treatment -- in this case, the swine flu vaccine.

"We are going to be overwhelmed with potential events," said Mike Osterholm, a public health expert at the University of Minnesota.

"Anything that happens to anybody in the period of seven to 14 days after vaccination will be reported."

...But because H1N1 is new, vaccine makers have been testing it to learn what the right dose is...

Comment- They are just now learning what the correct dose is? This infers they do not know what the correct dose is and that we will become the experiment.

[Linns]

One in three nurses 'do not want swine flu vaccine'

The Guardian,
Tuesday 18 August 2009

Almost a third of nurses will refuse the offer of immunisation against swine flu because they have fears about the vaccine's safety, according to a new survey.

The initial response from frontline health staff, one of the government's priority groups for vaccination this autumn, was dismissed by the Department of Health, however, as irresponsible and ill-informed.

The apparent reluctance to be among the first to receive the new vaccine emerged in a survey of 1,500 nurses carried out by the weekly Nursing Times. Overall, 30% of respondents to the magazine's online questionnaire replied 'no' when asked if they would seek to be immunised when the vaccine became available; only 37% said 'yes', while a further 33% remained answered 'maybe'.

The opinion poll, released less than a week after the health department revealed its timetable for immunisation, appears to reflect anxieties about receiving a vaccine not yet licensed for public use. That approval is expected to be given by the European Medicines Agency by the end of September or early October.

Cont., on the Guardian UK website

[Linns]

Nurses Plan Rally To Protest Mandatory Swine Flu Shot

Albany, NY nurses and other health professionals are planning to stage a rally next week to protest a state regulation that mandates they will lose their jobs if they refuse to take the swine flu shot, as fears grow about the vaccine’s dangerous ingredients and government plans to forcibly inoculate whole populations with the H1N1 jab.

Earlier today we reported on the case of “Clare,” a daycare worker in Albany who, despite having minimal contact with hospital staff who work in a separate building, an exemption allowed in the official decree, was ordered to take the seasonal flu shot on the spot or be fired. She was also advised that the same procedure would be in place for the swine flu shot, as is outlined in the New York State Department of Health’s emergency regulation issued in August.

Now nurses across the state are standing up against government intimidation to take the shot, pointing out that the vaccine has not been properly tested and contains mercury, squalene and other dangerous additives.

The New York State Nurses Association is supporting a demonstration on behalf of nurses set to take place next week, reports Newsday.

“This vaccine has not been clinically tested to the same degree as the regular flu vaccine,” said Tara Accavallo, a registered nurse in Stony Brook’s neonatal intensive care unit, the division that has produced a number of protesters. “If something happens to me, if I get seriously injured from this vaccine, who’s going to help me?”

Accavallo says she is willing to lose her job if need be, which is exactly what will happen to thousands of other health professionals on November 30 if the government refuses to back down.

[Leanne Rauhala]

How many doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been requested by the State of Massachusetts or will the state be allocated a prescribed number? How will vaccines be distributed to cities and towns? In other words, do towns request the amounts they wish to receive or if not how does the State determine amounts to be allocated to each? What date is the State is expecting to receive vaccine and what date will the vaccine be allocated to cities and towns?
_________________________________________________
DPH Responds: Thank you for your question. H1N1 vaccine will begin arriving in Massachusetts in October. At this time, we anticipate that approximately 1.3 million doses of vaccine will be available in the state by the end of October. We do not know exactly when these doses will be available or in which formulations. After the initial doses are distributed in October, additional doses will continue to become available thru December and probably later, as long as demand for the vaccine continues, with up to 2 million doses per month expected. As with seasonal flu, these doses will arrive on an irregular basis throughout the season.

In order to facilitate allocation of H1N1 vaccine to providers in Massachusetts, DPH has developed an on-line system to register all public and private provider sites interested in receiving and administering H1N1 vaccine (including physician offices, hospitals, local health departments, regional public health coalitions, colleges and universities, visiting nurses associations, clinics, pharmacists, occupational and employee health, and commercial community vaccinators).

You can find additional information about vaccine distribution on our website at www.mass.gov/flu.

[Jenni]

Can you lay to rest any of the rumors going around about Massachusetts instituting Marshall Law and forcing people to get vaccinated. This was reported on Fox News as being voted in by our elected officials. The rumors are flowing more and more so can you just answer these questions:
Will vaccinations become mandatory and will citizens be arrested if they do not comply?
Thank you!!
______________________________________________

DPH Responds: Vaccination against seasonal and H1N1 flu is completely voluntary. Commissioner Auerbach further expanded on this false rumor in a letter to members of the general court and local and municipal elected officials which you can find on our website at: http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/cdc/flu/swine_commissioner_memo_%20re_false_rumors_of_mandatory_vaccination.pdf

[Brenda Lague]

I am a manager of a rest home regulated by Department of Public Health. I am searching for helpful information on how to minimize the spread of H1N1 in the close quarters of a residential setting such as a rest home or nursing home.

We need specific information that targets precautions for the frail elder population we are caring for in these facilities throughout the State.

[Jessica Colon Polk]

Wanted to let everyone know that there will be a practical, skills focused social media course designed expressly for public health professionals offered at the 2009 APHA meeting. “Mastering Social Media and Interactive Technology to Improve Public Health Outcomes. A Practical Guide,” is a full-day Learning Institute held on Saturday, November 7, 2009.
Registration is now open at http://www.apha.org/meetings/.

[John Clements]

;-) Hello, just a few quick questions, #1 What happen to the three missing viels of deadly flu that are missing from the US Army Bio Weapons Lab that was a mixture of several kinds of flu, called a coctail!
question #2 Is this part of the plan to spread the flu by means of inoculating every one with the cacine that has been proven to contain more of the same flu! I think the News Media should be covering this issue ! John In Belmon,Mass.USA said that.

[MICHAEL COOPER]

IN REGARDS TO THE DPH DECISION TO NO LONGER REPORT SWINE FLU UPDATES COUNTY BY COUNTY OR TO REPORT ON A DAILY BASIS I AM URGING YOU TO PLEASE RECONSIDER AND TO BEGIN MAKING ALL INFORMATION, WITH REGARDS TO PRIVACY RIGHTS, AVAILABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF MA. AS YOU ARE AWARE THE WHO HAS CONVENED TODAY IN GENEVA AND ARE ASSESSING THE CURRENT UPSWINE OF H1N1 CASES NOW BEING REPORTED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE AN OFFICIAL PANDEMIC ALERT.
I AM LIVING WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUE AND HAVE DEPENDED ON THE INFORMATION WHICH DPH HAS MADE AVAILABLE UNTIL TODAY. IN MANY CASES LIKE MINE, THE INFORMATION CONCERNING SWINE FLU, ITS SPREAD AND LOCATION, WILL PROVE PIVOTAL IN STAYING SAFELY OUT OF HARMS WAY.

--------------------
Suzanne Crowther responds: I can understand your concern about being exposed to the flu, especially if you have an underlying health condition that puts you are risk for complications from the flu.

Regardless of how often our case counts are updated, you should continue to assume there is flu circulating in your community -- it has been confirmed in every county in the state. Therefore, it is important to take precautions to prevent being exposed. That includes washing your hands often with soap and water (or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer), keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth, and avoiding people who are coughing or sneezing.

According to Dr. Al DeMaria, our Chief Epidemiologist, at this stage of the outbreak, most flu-like illness that's out there is H1N1. And for every tested case that is positive, there are probably tens to hundreds more people with H1N1 illness that we don’t know about. These people could be anywhere.

He also says that we are transitioning to our traditional flu surveillance system that reliably tracks trends and patterns of illness -- without putting undue emphasis into case counts that do not mean the same as they did when the first cases were emerging. And that our focus needs to be on flu prevention, rather than numbers.

[Gary]

Thank you for the level of reporting that you continue to do regarding Novel H1N1. Many other states have since stopped daily updates, and the subsequent level of awareness of the disease's spreads is ignored. The CDC, WHO and the mainstream media have done an excellent job of lulling the population into beleiveing that this is a non-event (motives unclear at this point) Anyone reading this post knows otherwise. I still take issue with case counts in general as the "positives for H1N1" are limited by : the number of test kits available, the limited criteria around who gets tested and the capacity to process test samples. That said the disease is much more prevalent than indicated. Just the same thanks for continuing to report the data you do have.

[George B. Scheurer]

I once worked for the Mass. Department of Public Health. I did tuberculosis followup. What bothers me about your reporting and the CDC's reporting is that nobody tries to gather/report the important information. We need to know the age/underlying condition/Town or City/Treatment received/date of onset (estimate) etc. You do know the drill. Why are you dumbing down the data? This is very important to get in place, because come the fall and the "very likely" mutation of this virus into a potential lethal form we in a community will need information like this to plan "community wide complete shutdowns." This allows us to stop the spread, treat the cases in the home and bring R0 back to zero. This makes the best use of Tami and saves the most lives while allowing a community to get back to normal functioning after a scheduled time out. Get the information system in place now. Once a Pandemic really hits, information is key.

[p. bowen]

with the outbreak appearing to be selective as to schools with heavy concentration in various schools is it possible that this flu is caused by something in the food in cafertias or the igredients which come from a common source in the us or mexico. Has this been checked

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Suzanne Crowther responds: Thanks for your question. I can see why you would ask that, because some schools are definitely experiencing much higher absenteeism than others. However, we know for certain that flu is not spread via a "point source" like food. It is spread person to person when infected people cough or sneeze. This new flu has been tested, and it spreads person to person, just like the regular seasonal flu.

[Jennifer]

Can one of your medical experts speak on the fact that the majority of the confirmed cases in MA (and the US) are in children and young adults?

Is this pattern typical for seasonal flu?

Also - if a child is confirmed to have the H1N1 virus, and other family members begin to have the same symptoms, will the state test the other family members also? Or will you just assume that they are ill with H1N1 because of their contact with the child?

If you do not test the other family members, then is it possible that the number of people in the state with this virus is actually higher than the 83 confirmed as of May 8?

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Dr. Lauren Smith responds: Thus far, the pattern of the virus spreading is generally typical of the seasonal flu, but it seems to be spreading more in children under the age of 18. This influenza virus seems to be affecting more children and younger adults than the usual flu which often affects older adults and the elderly more than other populations.

Re: Testing-- At this point, we are focusing on testing only the more seriously ill patients and feel there is enough virus circulating in the community that we don’t need to test contact of cases exhibiting influenza-like symptoms. We will assume they are sick with the same virus, and classify them as “probable” cases.

Re: Amount of virus actually in the community--Even before we shifted the focus of our testing to only those who were hospitalized or were at increased risk for complications, we knew the number of H1N1 cases was higher than what was being reported. That’s because there are likely many people who are experiencing milder symptoms who aren't seeking treatment and testing from their doctor or from a hospital. This is true for seasonal flu as well. That is why are recommending that the public focus on keeping themselves from getting sick by washing their hands frequently or using hand sanitizer and trying to keep their hands away from their eyes, nose and mouth. The virus is circulating the in the community and we should assume that we could be exposed anywhere, even if there is not a "confirmed" case in our workplace or school. Again, this is also true during the regular flu season.

[Jennifer]

In today's (May 7) update, you did not post the confirmed H1N1 cases in table format as you have in previous updates. Instead, the link leads to a download of a .rtf document.

I understand you probably did this because the number of cases is increasing and the complete list would make the page very long. But please understand that we look to your site as THE source of information for actual confirmed cases. Many people want to check your site for updates and are doing so from work and are unable (or not allowed) to download documents from the internet.

Please consider asking your web designers to create a table format that makes use of space (limited cellpadding and cellspacing) and allows us to see a list of cases directly from the website!

Another solution would be to create one page specifically for the confirmed cases, update it daily, and link to the same page each day. This is much easier than re-creating the table each day. (No, I'm not searching for a web design job, thankyou! ;)

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Suzanne Crowther responds: Thanks for the feedback. We have added the the detailed line list back in and created a split entry. Hope that works better for you.

[Pat]

I understand that the people with the swine flu have a right to there privacy, but as a parent of children in school we have the right at least to know if the person infected was at our childs school. I and many other parents received a call about an hour ago informing us that a staff member had the swine flu, but they believe that this person found out on time and don't see any reasons to close the schools. How can they gurantee to us parents that our children will be safe. Two of my children have a very weak imune system. Anything they catch usually takes a little longer to get rid of. I think they need to give us more information on this case before sending our children to school.
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Kristin Golden responds: Thank you for your question. As happened in your case, schools have been very proactive in communicating with parents and staff about H1N1 (swine) flu. With the most recent round of confirmations, schools may have only found out this morning that a student/staff member was confirmed, so it sounds like parents in your school were informed rather quickly by school administrators. That is good news because it allows parents to have access to the most recent information available. I would assure you that schools and board of health generally don't hesitate to close a school if they feel there is any threat to the health of students or faculty. The schools generally are working with the local board of health to determine if closing a school is necessary based on the specific circumstances of the case.

[Jennifer Gray]

The news of 2 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu broke in the Cape Cod Times on May 1. http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090501/NEWS11/90501022/-1/NEWS

Why aren't these included on your May 4 update on number of cases in MA? If I am correct, these should be listed in Barnstable county, making the state total of confirmed cases 8.

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Suzanne Crowther responds: These cases have not yet been officially confirmed. We only include confirmed cases on our website.

[Heather Sankey]

Thanks for this site: it's very helpful.

[Yauhoooo]

Hi, I found your site using http://www.yauhoooo.com Yauhoooo, does your site support Firefox?

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Suzanne Crowther responds: Yes, it does.

[Rottie]

Have to love how the Government does not want to have the new flu cases location known. People have a right to know where the flu cases are and in what communities so others can be aware!
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Tom Lyons Responds: Hi Rottie, thanks for your comment. We do release county level information for cases, however we believe it is important to protect the health privacy of cases as best as possible. There have been a number of instances during this outbreak where an inappropriate level of personal health information has been disclosed. We want to make sure that abide by federal and state health privacy laws when we release information. Also, you should know that as part of our public health investigation, we will always work to contact close contacts of cases.

[Jennifer Dickinson]

How many people are being tested and or suspected of having the flu currently in Massachusetts?

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Thanks for you question. As of Thursday, April 30, at noon, there have been two confirmed cases in Massachusetts. DPH will update that number as new cases are confirmed, but we are not announcing what are referred to as "suspect" or "probable" cases at this time. This is consistent with CDC guidelines.
Kristin Golden DPH

[Michael f Bookman Beverly Emergency Management]

What levels of alert are we following in massachusettes
in regards to the H1N1 infection. Thankds

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Thanks for your question. Yesterday the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the alert level for the swine flu outbreak to Phase 5 (see below for description) and Massachusetts and U.S. are planning accordingly. Local communities should be reviewing and revising as needed their local pandemic, continuity of operations, and other relevant emergency plans.

Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.

Kristin Golden, DPH

[karen]

You must concede that highest at-risk population for unhealthy eating would be the inner city. How Mass in Motion is going to address this issue without any members of the affected population in positions of power (financial or political) Any minorities in high level positions? Anyone with a degree in public health and policy-making? Who are you exactly and how did you get your job? When you have $500,000, you do not just talk about doing something, you actually do it. Remember the Black Panther's breakfast program? $500,000 would feed alot of kids if you just applied the money directly for buying and providing good food instead of forming committees.