Statement on Declaration of Emergency

Governor Deval Patrick and health and human services officials in Massachusetts praised President Obama for the declaration of national emergency related to the H1N1 influenza outbreak.  "The President's actions allow us to continue on the path we have been on in response to H1N1; namely working in partnership with health care providers and public health officials to prepare for an increase in the number of residents with the flu".  The declaration would permit the federal government to waive specific hospital-related legal requirements.  This would allow hospitals to take certain actions to respond to increased demands for care and to fully implement their disaster operations plans that enable appropriate care during emergencies.  The Governor joined the President in downplaying the significance of such a declaration.  "This does not mean that conditions have dramatically changed or that the public should be alarmed".   

Secretary of Health and Human Services JudyAnn Bigby, MD, emphasized that the plans to prepare and respond to the H1N1 flu have been in place for months as state health officials have collaborated with a wide spectrum of organizations - from hospitals and medical practices to local health officials to school superintendents and nurses.  "Each of these sectors is actively working to reduce risk of infection and serious illness". 

The Patrick Administration has conferred with the Massachusetts Hospital Association regarding the President’s declaration and joint efforts are being made to inform hospitals of its content.  The declaration does not increase the pace at which the H1N1 vaccine will become available to the public.  Production delays have decreased the shipments of vaccine to Massachusetts and all other states.  So far in Massachusetts, 300,000 doses of the vaccine have been distributed to clinical sites.  Hundreds of thousands more are expected in the coming weeks.  Public health officials reaffirmed that residents of the state can play an active role in decreasing the spread of the flu by staying home when sick and by carefully practicing health hygiene.

 

Comments

[Wendy Smith]

What about state prisoners? Maybe they won't receive the vaccine right away, but they don't even have antibacterial soap &/or hand sanitizer. If hand washing is such a preventitive for flu-like illnesses, why are there not hand sanitizer pumps @ the various correction officers' stations? Inmates are being made to pay $5 something for a 6 oz. bottle. Not all inmates have money in their canteens. I work in a school where each classroom has a container of sanitizer.

Let's talk pandemic! How quickly will influenza A travel through a prison? Not to mention the security & safety of prisoners & correction's personel, should it spread like wildfire throughout an institution.

[Michelle Rose]

why dont they just keep the kids out of school till the vaccine is available for all school age kids. Even if it's a couple of weeks or a month. Once they get the vaccine they can go back to school and stay in school longer in the summer to make up for it. Why put our kids at risk of death if it's not needed.

[Deborah Welch]

Hello-
I jsut found out I'm 8 weeks pregant, making me a high risk group member. After making calls all day yeaterday, I've not been able to find provider with H1N1 shots. Any ideas where I can go?

[Andrew]

I have a high functioning form of Autism and I depend on daily medication to function normally and I had the seasonal flu (bad case) back in 1998 and I did not absorb my medication because of the flu and I ended up having some emotional challenges that have not returned to this day. I do take my medication faithfully and I function normally and I drive a car better than most "normal" people. I fear swine flu because I don't want to risk not absorbing my medication. I am faithful about getting a flu shot and have already gotten my seasonal flu shot. My doctor got a limited supply of flu shots (H1N1) but only gave them to pregnant women and children. People with physical or developmental disabilities should also be considered high priority for the H1N1 vaccine as well because there are fewer people with disabilities than there are children and pregnant women combined and people with disabilities are even higher risk than pregnant women and children. I feel people with disabilities are far more underserved in this state than mothers with children. I am disabled through no fault of my own and I am disabled because of an act of god.

[T1]

There doesn't seem to be any information on where to go for H1N1 flu shots. I called my doctor at Lahey Clinic and checked the MA sites but no one knows.

On one hand the Federal and State government agencies seem to encourage the citizenry to get the H1N1 shot but on the other hand no one knows where to get it when the vaccines become available. Its a massive disconnect that is perplexing. You would at least think an agency could advise they will administer a H1N1 clinic when the vaccine becomes available.

[Brian]

Hi, my wife and I fall into the high risk group as caregivers for our 3-month old (premature) twins, as they are too young to be immunized. Our primary care physicians do not have any H1NI vaccine and have no idea when to expect it. The pediatrician's office refuses to immunize us as we are not their patients and also not high risk enough, I suppose. We are not concerned about ourselves, but we are very concerned about exposing our infants to the flu if we were to contract it. What do we do? How to we get the vaccine?

[Valerie Andersen]

I think my two children and I have swine flu. We have all the symptoms. A friend of my daughters did go to the doctor in Pittsfield for a test on friday. It was positive. My doctor, and my children's doctors told us not to come in for a test. How can public health officials make assessments of the levels of the flu when people are who are sick are not being tested.

[Uncle Glenny]

A question about the staging of vaccinations for different demographics.

One stage, as I remember, is for young adults or those with a medical condition that puts them at risk (e.g., asthma). In order to receive the vaccination, is some sort of documentation required (e.g. note from doctor)? Is a simple assertion of need sufficient?

Is this standardized across the state, or left to the whim of local authorities?

[Deb]

Is one contagious after receive the swine flu mist? For how long?
Thanks