Health officials making plans for H1N1

A meeting held this past Wednesday, Sept 23 at the Emergency Operations Center called by local public health officials to bring awareness to the planning and response efforts underway by the Health Department concerning the H1N1 (Swine Flu Virus).

Franklin county health department administrator Wesley Tice told those in attendance that the health department was making plans to dispense the H1N1 vaccine that included needing their help.

Tice said that with an in-house staff of 40, it would take a collaborative effort from their Public Health Partners to assist his agency with vaccinating up to 12,000 people.

Local health officials have already ordered enough of the H1N1 vaccine to vaccinate up to 12,500 county residents. However, the vaccine will not become available all at once and a local priority order needs to be established.

Currently the priority order includes the following:

Pregnant women, persons who live with or provide care for infants less than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical personnel, persons 6 months to 24 years-old, and persons 25 to 64 years-old who have a medical condition that put them at a higher risk for influenza-related complications.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be making available statewide about 3 million doses of the vaccine and that has to be divided between all 67 Florida counties some with small and large populations. Because of this, local health officials don’t have an idea of how much or when they will receive their allotment, thus necessitating the need for a priority order.

In the interim, you can protect yourself through prevention and by knowing the symptoms. If you experience high fever with an accompanied rash, lethargy, loss of appetite, a running nose, sore throat, severe coughing, nausea, and diarrhea and vomiting, seek medical help immediately. To prevent the onset of the virus, frequently and thoroughly wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and stay home if you are sick.

For up-to-date information or to learn about H1N1 (Swine Flu Virus) visit http://www.myflusafety.com or call (877) 352-3581.