LIHU‘E — Public and charter schools offering H1N1 (swine flu) vaccinations for students and school staff have enough supplies for school clinics starting on Kaua‘i later this month, said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist with the Department of Health. Ensuring
LIHU‘E — Public and charter schools offering H1N1 (swine flu) vaccinations for students and school staff have enough supplies for school clinics starting on Kaua‘i later this month, said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist with the Department of Health.
Ensuring 80,000 vaccines for students and school staff statewide means more of the remaining 100,000 doses of the swine flu vaccines can be given to private providers for distribution to people at high risk of complications should they get swine flu, Park said during a media update on H1N1 and seasonal flu.
She also scolded private providers for not getting back to DOH figures on how many vaccines they have given.
Accountability for dosages administered is important. Private immunizers have received around 60,000 doses statewide, but only 18,000 have been reported as distributed, she said.
“That is woefully short” compared to the number of vaccines sent out, she said, adding that she won’t release more doses until the doses sent out are accounted for.
“Clearly, the lag is in the reporting,” Park said, as DOH officials are totally up to date with logging administered numbers as reported either electronically or via paper copies from the providers.
Providers also need to ensure that the doses are being given to priority groups first, she said. The priority groups include pregnant women; people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age; healthcare and emergency medical services personnel; children and young adults 6 months through 24 years of age; and people 25 through 64 years of age who have medical conditions (diabetes, heart trouble, etc.) that place them at high risk for complications from any influenza.
William Gallo, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said state DOH officials have done an excellent job preparing for immunization clinics, and Park said people in Hawai‘i have an experience advantage as the current school year is the third year of the state Department of Education and DOH Stop Flu at School program.
Fine-tuning the school vaccine program to vaccinate against H1N1 was easier because of the years of experience in fighting seasonal flu in the schools, she said.
“Close collaboration with all partners, including parents,” helps with mobilizing for H1N1 immunizations in the schools, said Park.
“This is a public-health issue that really needs all of our attention despite all of the hardships we are facing now,” said Park, responding to a question about impact of furloughs and layoffs on DOH flu-prevention efforts.
“It’s definitely challenging” with furloughs and layoffs, she said.
Gallo called swine flu an “epidemic,” while Park called it a “pandemic.”
Park said both strains of flu are dangerous if taken lightly, and Gallo said the key to both is not to panic, and to let federal officials slowly but surely fill up the vaccination pipeline so, eventually, those not in high-priority classes will be able to get vaccinated if they wish.
More vaccines arrive in Hawai‘i several times a week, said Park.
“Every year, people are dealing with seasonal flu,” and being hospitalized, Park said. “Seasonal flu is just as serious. Seasonal flu is not to be taken lightly.”
Those with flu-like symptoms — fever plus cough and sore throat — should stay home from work or school from the time the symptoms appear to a period 24 hours after the fever subsides without the aid of medication, said Park.
Additionally, people should take the following steps to stay healthy:
— Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it;
— Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after a cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective;
— Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way;
— Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them;
— Follow public-health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social-distancing measures.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
