Flu news: National emergency declared for H1N1 epidemic, locally, little changes for now

Over the weekend, President Obama declared the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, epidemic a national emergency, which allows hospitals to move emergency rooms offsite in order to help separate H1N1-infected and noninfected patients.

On Thursday, Oct. 22, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Margaret Donnelly announced that pregnant women and children aged 3 and younger could opt to receive an H1N1 vaccine containing a mercury-based preservative.

Currently there is a Missouri statute that prohibits the use of that type of vaccine in women and children younger than 3, but Donnelly said they could choose to receive a vaccine with the preservative because there is currently a shortage of preservative-free vaccines.

In Saline County, the health department continues to receive a limited number of vaccines each week, Assistant Administrator Russ Donnell said. This week, the breakdown was 300 regular doses, 100 intranasal mist and 100 preservative-free.

Upon receipt, the department distributes the vaccines to Marshall Medical Clinic, TLC Pediatrics, Missouri Valley Physicians, Mid-Missouri Family Health, Marshall Family Practice and I-70 Community Hospital, for physicians clinics. The department has also given some vaccines to Marshall Habilitation Center and Butterfield Youth Services for staff use.

Donnell said the department plans to reserve a small number of the mist vaccines to administer on-site for individuals who do not have a primary care provider in the area.

He pointed to an editorial in USA Today for the reason that vaccines are arriving so slowly and in such limited amounts.

"Only one of the five vaccine makers is based in the USA, and most of the production occurs overseas," it reads.

Because there remains high demand for the vaccine, it is still being administered under the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine priority group recommendations.

They are first, pregnant women; second, persons who live with or provide care for infants younger than 6 months of age; third, health-care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients; fourth, children aged 6 months to 4 years; and fifth, children and adolescents aged 5 to 18 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

This season, about 11 million H1N1 doses are supposed to be distributed nationwide. Of that, 175,000 are set to come to Missouri, according to Health Literacy Missouri.

A free, 24-hour flu hotline has been set up for Missouri residents. Call 1-877-FLU-4141, or 1-877-358-4141, for more information.

Information taken from The Associated Press and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net

Related stories:

www.marshallnews.com/topic/flu_news09

On the Web:

Government overpromises, under-delivers on flu shots
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/10/d...