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_______________________________________________ Emergency Preparedness Bureau flu advisory March 3, 2010 H1N1 Advisory Flu season can last as late as May. It's possible that other waves of influenza activity may occur this flu season - caused by either 2009 H1N1 viruses or regular seasonal flu viruses. Therefore, DPH continues to encourage everyone to take this opportunity to get vaccinated. To find flu clinics in your area visit http://flu.masspro.org. Vaccine Availability Providers looking for seasonal influenza vaccine available for purchase can check with IVATS (Influenza Vaccine Availability Tracking System). IVATS provides information about vaccine manufacturers and distributors with vaccine available for purchase. To access this information, go to: http://www.preventinfluenza.org/ivats/ivats_09_10.pdf. There is plenty of H1N1 vaccine available in all formulations, except for 0.25 pre-filled syringes. For questions about requesting H1N1 vaccine or reporting doses administered, please call the H1N1 Vaccine help Desk at 617-983-6898. CDC Update Despite the overall decrease in flu activity, the H1N1 virus is still circulating and it is still causing disease, hospitalizations and deaths. Many people are still susceptible to this virus and would benefit from vaccination. The CDC recommends continuing vaccination with seasonal influenza vaccine and 2009 H1N1 vaccine. The CDC provides updated 2009 H1N1 vaccine supply and distribution data daily at around 12:00pm on their website. In addition, the CDC posted a number of new and updated resources on its website http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/. Included are: Updated Q & A: Seasonal and 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccines for Businesses http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/business_qa.htm Updated: Key Facts About 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_keyfacts.htm Updated Q & A: Vaccine against 2009 H1N1 Influenza Virus http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub .htm Guidance from Pediatric Stakeholders: A Coordinated Approach to Communicating Pediatric-related Information on Pandemic Influenza at the Community Level http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/pediatrics_tool.htm MMWR: Outbreaks of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Among Long-Term--Care Facility Residents --- Three States, 2009 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5903a3.htm?s_ci d=mm5903a3_e%0d%0a Contact Us MSAR www.mass.gov/MSAR msar@dph.state.ma.us Medical Reserve Corps of Massachusetts www.mamedicalreservecorps.org rchecchio@mamedicalreservecorps.org |
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