Situation Overview
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health,
Visits to doctors for influenza-like illnesses are increasing nationally.
CDC anticipates that 2009 H1N1 influenza
viruses will co-circulate with regular seasonal influenza viruses over our
influenza season.
The timing, spread and severity of 2009
H1N1 virus – in addition to our regular seasonal influenza viruses - are uncertain.
The 2009 H1N1 virus remains similar to the virus chosen for
the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remains susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with
rare exception.
Surveillance (including case numbers)
H1N1 flu testing and case reporting is different than it was
in the spring. Case counts do not give an accurate representation of H1N1 flu
in the community. Outpatients are not being routinely tested for influenza;
therefore reports of confirmed cases cannot be relied upon to provide an
accurate picture of novel H1N1 cases that do not require hospitalization.
H1N1 Vaccine
The seasonal flu will not provide protection against the H1N1 flu and vice versa.
This year, more than ever before, the Health Department encourages people to do everything they can to protect themselves and the people they care for from influenza.
We estimate that 300,000
The Health Department’s goal is to vaccinate approximately 25,000 people.
Residents will also be able to receive vaccinations from health care providers, pharmacies and other local facilities.
The national vaccine program will be voluntary. Those interested in vaccination for themselves or their children will receive accurate information about 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine and the vaccine’s benefits and risks so they can make an informed decision.
We know that children are at a relatively greater risk of becoming seriously ill with the H1N1 flu strain if they get it. We are particularly encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated.
Senior citizens are normally first in line to receive the seasonal flu shot, but they are not among the current target groups for the H1N1 vaccine. We know that they are not as likely to become ill from H1N1 flu as other groups. Senior citizens should get the seasonal flu shot now and get the H1N1 shot as soon as the high priority groups have received their shots.
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family against this illness. The H1N1 vaccine is being produced the same way as the seasonal flu vaccine.
We expect the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine to have a similar safety profile as seasonal flu vaccine, which has a very good track record.
Main concerns from the public
o Mild illness—even an average case is no picnic and can interfere with work, school and will affect businesses; expect many people will become very ill and some have died; best protection is the vaccine
o Safety of vaccine – this vaccine is made by same companies, methods, safety assurances used to produce the seasonal flu vaccine that’s been used in hundreds of millions of people
o Will the vaccine arrive too late? It is way too soon to determine this. Can’t predict the future but can predict that the vaccine is an excellent match to this strain of flu so should have a very high degree of efficacy.
LCHD H1N1 Clinics
The Health
Department is preparing to open H1N1 flu vaccination clinics at five sites.
These walk-in clinics are initially for people in specific high priority target
groups.
Once the
high priority populations have received the vaccine, the Health Department will
provide the vaccine to the general public.
In
addition to the Health Department clinics, vaccinations will be available from
a large number of community healthcare providers, pharmacies and clinics in
November and December.
More than
430 local providers and facilities registered to receive vaccine in the county.
Gurnee
Thursday,
Oct. 29 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday,
Oct. 30 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday,
Oct. 31 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Note: This
clinic will remain open for several months to provide vaccine to the general
public following the priority groups.
Gymnasium
855
Thursday,
Oct. 29 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday,
Oct. 30 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday,
Oct. 31 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Round
Round Lake
Area Park District
Thursday,
Oct. 29 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday,
Oct. 30 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday,
Oct. 31 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday,
Nov. 1 – 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Waukegan
Park District
Field
House at
Thursday,
Oct. 29 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday,
Oct. 30 - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday,
Oct. 31 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1 - 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The Lake
County Health Department’s
Thursday,
Oct. 29 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Friday,
Oct. 30 - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday,
Oct. 31 - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday,
Nov. 1 – Closed
These
clinics are walk-in only. Please note that only the H1N1 flu vaccine, and not
the seasonal flu vaccine, is available at these clinics.
The high priority target
population groups for the H1N1 vaccine include:
H1N1
vaccinations have been produced in several forms such as nasal spray and shots.
Health
Department vaccination clinic staff will work with residents to determine the
best form of vaccine for each individual, based on health needs and vaccine
availability.
It is also very important that anyone who
received a seasonal flu shot this year to bring a record of that vaccination to
the H1N1 clinic so staff can determine the best form of vaccine to provide.
Dosage
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.
All four manufacturers of the 2009 H1N1 vaccines are using the same processes that they use for making the seasonal flu vaccines, which have a long record of producing safe seasonal influenza vaccines.
Children younger than 10 years should receive two doses of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. This is slightly different from CDC’s recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination which state that children younger than 9 who are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time need to receive two doses. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.
CDC recommends that the two doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine be separated by 4 weeks. However, if the second dose is separated from the first dose by at least 21 days, the second dose can be considered valid.
The national vaccine program will be voluntary. Those interested in vaccination for themselves or their children will receive accurate information about 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine and the vaccine’s benefits and risks so they can make an informed decision.
Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
The nasal-spray flu
vaccine — a vaccine made with
live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for
"live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist®).
LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy people
2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Is
nasal spray vaccine (LAIV) as effective as the regular influenza shot?
Yes. Studies conducted before the licensure of
LAIV show that it is very protective against influenza disease and that it is
at least as effective as inactivated vaccine.
Who
can receive LAIV?
People 2 through 49 years of age without any
chronic health conditions are eligible for LAIV. This includes household
contacts and out-of-home caregivers of infants under 6
months of age, health care workers, and contacts of persons who have chronic
health conditions.
What
does “attenuated” mean?
Attenuated means that the influenza viruses used
to make LAIV have been weakened so they cannot grow well in human tissue.
Who cannot receive LAIV?
Because no studies were completed at licensure to
determine the efficacy or safety in certain persons, LAIV is not recommended
for the following:
Can
contacts of the persons listed above get vaccinated with LAIV?
Yes. There is only one instance in which healthy
people should consider the inactivated flu injection over the nasal spray –
when they are caring for persons requiring protective isolation, e.g., post
bone marrow transplant.
Can
contacts of persons with weakened immune systems be vaccinated with LAIV?
Yes, LAIV can be used in contacts of persons who
have HIV/AIDS, who are on chemotherapy, or who have diseases that weaken their
immune system. Remember that the vaccine uses a weakened virus that doesn’t
contain a viral dose big enough to cause disease. Also, once the virus gets to
the lower respiratory tract the warmer temperatures kill it.
What
side effects are associated with LAIV?
In children, the most common side effects can
include runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and fever. In clinical
trials upper respiratory symptoms, such as runny nose and nasal congestion,
fever, or other systemic symptoms, were reported in 10%-40% of both vaccine and
placebo recipients. Adults may experience a runny nose, headache, sore throat,
and cough. Unlike children, fever is not a common side effect in adults
receiving LAIV.
Is
LAIV a safe vaccine? It seems so new.
The study and development of the live attenuated
influenza vaccine have been going on since the 1960s. Serious adverse reactions
have been identified in less than 1% of LAIV recipients, in either children or
adults, since licensure.
Can
LAIV be given to patients when they are ill?
Persons with mild illnesses, e.g., diarrhea or
mild upper respiratory tract infection, with or without fever, may receive the
nasal spray flu vaccine (LAIV). Vaccination may need to be delayed for persons
who have an illness that has caused nasal congestion because of the
interference of vaccine delivery.
Healthy Habits
In addition to getting your season flu shot, help prevent the spread of flu in the workplace, schools and throughout the community by:
People with flu-like symptoms should stay home from school, work and social gatherings until 24 hours after resolution of their fever. People are more contagious when they have a fever, so staying home during this time is especially important to not spread the flu to coworkers, friends or fellow students.
Anti-Virals
Doctors will be recommending that some people who get seasonal
or 2009 H1N1 to be treated with antiviral drugs.
Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or
an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from
reproducing in your body. Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make
you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter. You must get
them from your health care provider.
Antivirals
are different from antibiotics. Antiviral drugs are recommended
especially for people who are very sick (hospitalized) or people who are sick
with flu-like symptoms and who are at increased risk of serious flu
complications, such as pregnant women, young children, people 65 and older, and
people with chronic health conditions. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best
if started within the first 2 days of symptoms.
Resources for Information
The Lake County Health Department’s H1N1 flu hotline number is: (847) 377- 8350.
The Health Department is recruiting volunteers for its Lake County Medical Reserve Corps. For more information, call: (847) 377-8358.
Reliable sources for information and updates:
http://www.lakecountyil.gov/Health/H1N1.htm
http://www.flu.gov/ http://ready.illinois.gov