Local Updates for H1N1 flu
June 23–Oct 28, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
H1N1 Flu Vaccinations
The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) is not scheduling any H1N1 vaccination clinics because it does not have any vaccine.
TCHD does not know when it will receive more H1N1 vaccine, how much it will receive and whether it will be in form of the nasal spray or the injectable form (shot). Clinics will be scheduled only when TCHD is in receipt of the vaccine. Read the complete update »
Friday, October 23, 2009
Health care personnel NYS requirement suspended
Commissioner of NYSDOH, Richard F. Daines, MD suspends requirement for health care workers to be vaccinated against seasonal and H1N1 influenza viruses. View letter from Dr. Daines (PDF, 36K).
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
H1N1 Flu and Seasonal Flu Vaccine Update
Since the beginning of October, TCHD has been receiving a limited supply of H1N1 vaccine. New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) requires that TCHD and other local health departments provide the vaccine to health care workers and first responders who include emergency medical/fire services and law enforcement. Since October 9, TCHD has provided over 400 vaccinations to this group. TCHD expects to receive more H1N1 vaccine in early November. Read the complete press release »
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Local supply of H1N1 flu vaccine continues to be available for targeted groups
Limited quantities of vaccine for H1N1 flu is arriving in nasal and injectable forms at the Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) and at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca (CMC) only. At this time, there are no other local health care providers receiving the H1N1 flu vaccine.
Current efforts are focused on vaccinating health workers and first responders. As shipments of H1N1 flu vaccine increase, vaccinations will proceed for individuals in five target groups as specified by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eventually, local providers who signed up for the vaccine should begin receiving their supplies via direct shipment.
Please be patient as we await increased shipments of H1N1 flu vaccine into Tompkins County.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tompkins County Receives First Shipment of H1N1 Vaccine
The Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) received 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine this week. All of the 500 doses are the nasal spray vaccine. More »
Seasonal Flu Vaccine for Children
Seasonal flu vaccine for children between the ages of 6 months and 18 years is available at the Tompkins County Health Department. TCHD has received a limited supply of seasonal flu vaccine for children. Call for an appointment at 607-274-6609 for children's seasonal flu vaccine. There is no charge.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Seasonal Flu and H1N1 Flu Vaccine in Tompkins County — Update
TCHD seasonal flu vaccination clinics scheduled from Sept. 29–Oct. 7 have been postponed due to a delay in distribution of seasonal flu vaccine.
TCHD expects to receive a small shipment of H1N1 flu vaccine the week of October 5. The vaccine will be in the form of a nasal spray. Because of the expected small number of doses in this first shipment of H1N1 flu vaccine, New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has directed local health departments to vaccinate health care providers first. The reason is to protect vulnerable patients in health care settings, not for personal benefit to health care providers. Read the full update »
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
ServNY registry of health care professionals
The Tompkins County Health Department encourages local health care professionals to register as a volunteer to provide essential health services during public health emergencies, and specifically H1N1 flu vaccination clinics.
This past August, NYS Governor David Paterson and Health Commissioner Richard Daines, M.D., released a statement urging New Yorkers to participate. Tompkins County residents may register through a Web-based program, ServNY, or by calling Adam Hartwig at TCHD, 607-274-6681.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Updated interim guidance on the use of facemasks and respirators for decreasing the exposure to novel influenza A (H1N1) virus is posted on the CDC Website. Follow this link:
Interim (CDC) Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use to Reduce Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Transmission.
For additional information, including a link to a demonstration video showing the proper technique for putting on a face mask with ear loops, visit the San Francisco Department of Public Health, How to Put on and Remove a Face Mask.
Friday, September 11, 2009
H1N1 in Tompkins County
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Influenza-like-illness is currently circulating on the local campuses, Cornell, Ithaca College, and TC3. Elsewhere in the community, less influenza-like-illness is reported. School is starting today for local school districts, and schools are working to reduce the likelihood of disease spread within the schools, by adapting recommendations from NYS and the CDC such as encouraging:
- frequent hand washing and adding hand sanitizer stations at appropriate sites within the schools
- respiratory etiquette (cough into a tissue and then wash hands, or alternatively cough into your sleeve; don't share anything that has been in or on the mouth of anyone else)
- staying home if ill (until 24 hours after fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medications)
- vaccination for seasonal flu
However, it is likely that once school is in session, the numbers of children ill with influenza-like-illness will probably increase so it is important to follow recommendations to limit the spread of respiratory illness, and to be aware of your own and your children's risk of complications to the flu.
Remember most people with flu-like illness recover on their own and do not need to see a doctor.
Testing for H1N1 influenza is not being done routinely. The purpose of testing is to identify the presence of H1N1 in the community and to track its spread and severity. We already know that H1N1 is here. Testing is not needed for treatment decisions. Treatment is based on symptoms and clinical diagnosis. Testing will only be done if there are unusual patterns of illness and for hospitalized patients who have influenza-like-illness.
Contact your health care provider for vaccination against the seasonal flu. TCHD will begin public seasonal flu vaccination clinics for adults on September 23 . Call the TCHD Flu Hotline during business hours for an appointment: 607-274-6609. Protect yourself and your family against seasonal flu.
TCHD Seasonal Flu page
TCHD H1N1 FAQ page
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Updated NYSDOH/NYSED H1N1 Guidance for Schools K-12
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the state Education Department (NYSED) have jointly released an update for their K-12 H1N1 Flu guidance document from May 2009. This week's update includes excerpts from the updated document that provide an overview of the content, and a link to download the entire document.
CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009–2010 Academic Year
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/guidance/ (opens page on the CDC Website). This guidance also recommends that students, faculty, and staff with flu-like illness remain home until 24 hours after resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. Portions of this guidance pertaining to dormitories and residence halls may serve as a useful supplement to residential (boarding) schools providing primary and secondary education, with adaptations as needed for their younger population.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Home checklist to know if your child has the flu
Information for all staff and parents at child care facilities and schools from NYSDOH
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Vaccination Recommendations: Priority populations from the CDC
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Updated CDC Guidance for K-12 Schools for the Fall Flu Season
Updated federal (CDC) guidelines offer state and local public health and school officials a range of options for responding to 2009 H1N1 influenza in schools, depending on how severe the flu may be in their communities. The guidance says officials should balance the risk of flu in their communities with the disruption that school dismissals will cause in education and the wider community. Follow the link below for details on the CDC Website.
Guidance for State and Local Health Officials and School Administrators for School Responses to Flu during 2009-2010 School Year
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
No new H1N1 information to report this week.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
No new H1N1 information to report this week.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
CDC Information on a vaccine for the novel H1N1 influenza. Click Here.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
No new H1N1 information to report this week.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
No new H1N1 information to report this week.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009:
Updated Guidance for Camps on Novel Influenza A (H1N1)
The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has issued a revised document for day and overnight camps to help identify illness and prevent the spread of H1N1.
The revision date is June 25, 2009.
Download the PDF document directly from the NYSDOH Website (177K)
www.nyhealth.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/docs/2009-06-25_guidance_for_camps_update.pdf
Additional information for children's summer camps (link to NYSDOH site)
www.nyhealth.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/ information_for_camps.htm
Wednesday, June 24, 2009:
For daily laboratory confirmed H1N1 cases in Tompkins County and other counties in New York State go to:
www.nyhealth.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/ h1n1/docs/state_h1n1_cases_by_county.pdf
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
H1N1 (Swine Flu) is present in Tompkins County. This was confirmed on May 28, 2009 when the first suspect case was sent for laboratory confirmation and tested positive for H1N1. Since then, three more cases have tested positive for H1N1. To date, there are four confirmed cases of H1N1 in the County. Continue to complete Update Statement »
Page updated: January 14, 2010 | Webmaster