Microsoft word - partner100709.doc

WASH HANDS/ALCOHOL GEL SNEEZE IN ARM STAY HOME WHEN SICK
H1N1 Partner Briefing
From: Director of Health, David R. Gifford, MD, MPH Re:
Local Influenza Activity Level: Regional1, H1N1 predominant circulating strain
Rhode Island2: 2 hospitalized cases, 0 deaths
National Report3: 16,174 hospitalized cases, 1,379 deaths
Sentinel Surveillance (% of visits due to influenza-like illness)4: Rhode Island: 3.1%, New England
Region: 1.9%, Nation: 4.6%
Tamiflu available from area pharmacies for uninsured patients
The antiviral drug Tamiflu is a prescription medicine used to treat people who are very sick with flu (such as
people who need to be hospitalized). It may also be prescribed for sick people who are at high risk of flu-
related complications. Uninsured patients with valid Tamiflu prescriptions can now receive one free course of
the antiviral drug Tamiflu at Rhode Island Stop & Shop pharmacies. Starting Monday, October 12, Tamiflu will
also be available for uninsured patients at Rhode Island Rite Aid and CVS pharmacies. The Department of
Health apologizes for any delays in the distribution of Tamiflu to these pharmacies experienced this week.
Patients with insurance will continue to be processed through their insurance plans.
H1N1 Vaccine Information Statements now available
Vaccine Information Statements for the inactivated H1N1 flu vaccine (the “flu shot”) and the live attenuated
H1N1 flu vaccine (the nasal spray “FluMist” ) are now available online from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Vaccine Information Statements explain the benefits and risks of vaccines to vaccine
recipients and should be reviewed prior to vaccination.
Vaccine Information Statement for the inactivated H1N1 flu shot: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-inact-h1n1.pdf Vaccine Information Statement for the live attenuated H1N1 flu vaccine (FluMist): http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-laiv-h1n1.pdf
Seasonal flu clinic schedules now available online
The Providence Journal has created an online search tool for finding upcoming seasonal flu vaccine clinics in
the Rhode Island area. Users can search the database by town and by clinic date. The database was compiled
by the Providence Journal using information supplied by the Ocean State Adult Immunization Coalition
(OSAIC). These clinics are for seasonal flu shots only. The Department of Health will communicate
information about H1N1 flu vaccine clinics to partners as it becomes available. To search for seasonal flu
clinics, see http://www.projo.com/news/flu/clinics/.
Resources
1 Rhode Island reported Regional activity for the week of September 27 to October 3, 2009. Influenza is circulating in 2 regions of the state. For details see http://www.health.ri.gov/flu/about/surveillance/. 2 Influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths since September 1, 2009 3 Influenza and pneumonia-associated hospitalizations and deaths from August 30 to September 19, 2009 4 Influenza-like illness activity from September 20 to September 26, 2009 WASH HANDS/ALCOHOL GEL SNEEZE IN ARM STAY HOME WHEN SICK
WASH HANDS/ALCOHOL GEL SNEEZE IN ARM STAY HOME WHEN SICK
• HEALTH at http://www.health.ri.gov; • Archived partner briefings and regular news updates: http://www.health.ri.gov/news/flu/ • H1N1 Information Line (M-F 8:30am- 4:30pm) 401-222-8022 • H1N1 email address [email protected] • http://www.flu.gov WASH HANDS/ALCOHOL GEL SNEEZE IN ARM STAY HOME WHEN SICK

Source: http://www.rihca.org/pdfs/partner100709.pdf