Swine Flu (H1N1) Vaccine Update for Orange County, CA
Dr Barry Marks, chiropractor Orange, CA 92868
The Health Care Agency for the County of Orange has posted the latest Orange County H1N1 vaccine information. As of October 19, 2009 there are 91 patients with H1N1 in Intensive Care Units in Orange County. Sadly, 1 of them is a patient of ours. As of that date there have been 22 Orange County fatalities suspected to be from H1N1. See that update after my commentary.
As a doctor, I want to remind my patients and others of a few common sense steps you can take to minimize your exposure and the spread of this flu.
Prevention:
- Wash hands often
- Carry antimicrobial sanitizer with you
- Gargle twice a day with Listerine or warm salt water
- Keep your hands away form your mouth, nose and eyes
- Cough into your elbow
- Stay away from people with cold or flu symptoms
- Get vaccinated if you fall into a risk category listed below
- Get plenty of rest, drink lots of water, and take 2,000 mg vitamin C/day
- Sit facing the sun for 30 min/day
The key is to keep your immune system strong to fight off the flu or at the least minimize it’s effect on you. The majority of people just feel like the regular flu, but for some reason, there is a small percentage of people who get it and it becomes very severe, very quickly. Most of these cases involve people with compromised immune systems.
If you end up with flu symptoms, take care of it as you normally would, but at the first signs of difficulty breathing, wheezing or any other respiratory distress, go to your family doctor or an urgent care for evaluation.
To keep from spreading the disease, if you get sick;
- Stay Home (don’t take it to work, school or other public places)
- Wash your hands often
- Dispose of tissues in a trashcan with a plastic bag liner and a lid
- Do not allow other family members to touch your tissues or trash bag
- Quarantine yourself from the rest of your family (sleep in another room and stay n that room away from everyone else as much as possible)
- Use antimicrobial wipes on common surfaces touched like telephones, computer keyboards, TV remotes, door knobs, etc)
I pray that you and your family will stay safe and healthy. Spread the word to others so that we may minimize the spread of H1N1.
Waremst regards,
Here is the latest post from the Health Care Agency of Orange County:
Novel H1N1 Vaccine Update (10/16/09)
The Health Care Agency continues to work with the California Department of Public Health to distribute vaccine in response to the 2009 H1N1 Flu. This is in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which has arranged for the production of an estimated 195 million doses of vaccine before the end of the year. The first shipment of H1N1 vaccine has been shipped to providers in Orange County.
The initial allocation was approximately 29,000 doses of H1N1 FluMist (nasal) vaccine. Because of the short supply and the nature of the vaccine it has been directed to private providers that can reach two initial populations: healthy children 2-18 and healthy caregivers of infants under 6 months. If you, or a family member, are part of these two groups please inquire with your health care provider about obtaining a H1N1 vaccination now.
We anticipate additional vaccine to begin arriving in Orange County as soon as next week in both injectable and FluMist formulations. By mid November approximately 500,000 doses should be available through more than 1,000 Orange County private and public health care providers. Until sufficient supplies arrive to provide vaccinations to all who want it, the CDC recommends the vaccine be directed to the following groups:
- pregnant women
- people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age,
- healthcare and emergency medical services personnel,
- persons between the ages of 6 months through 24 years of age, and
- people from ages 25 through 64 years who are at higher risk for Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza complications because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
The Health Care Agency is working with community providers to assure rapid access to vaccine by individuals in the priority groups. Providers may still register for free vaccine at CalPanFlu.org.
H1N1 vaccinations will be available through many avenues as supplies increase:
- Approximately 10% of the vaccine supply will be available through Kaiser Permanente to its members
- More than 1,000 private health care providers will receive vaccine, so check with your provider
- Many schools, colleges and universities will be offering onsite vaccinations for school children
- Many Community Clinics will have vaccinations available to the public
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Several hospitals, cities, community service centers, and the Health Care Agency will be offering public vaccination clinics.
