ATTENTION: All USF Health Faculty, Staff and Students

Oct. 29, 2009 — USF Health has received a very limited quantity of the H1N1 Vaccine and has begun vaccinating our patients, employees, and students who meet the criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Florida Department of Health. Because the vaccine is currently available in limited quantities, the following TARGET GROUPS will receive the vaccine before others, in the following order:

1) Pregnant women
2) People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers)
3) Healthcare and Emergency Medical Services personnel with direct patient contact (OB & Pediatric patient contact first).
4) Children 6 months through 4 years of age
5) Children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.

Once the demand for vaccine for these target groups has been met, we will begin vaccinating all others in the following order:

1) All Healthcare personnel
2) Persons between the ages of 4 and 24 years old
3) People ages 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems
4) All other people ages 25 through 64 years
5) People over the age of 65

We do not expect that there will be a shortage of 2009 H1N1 vaccine and anticipate that vaccine will be available for all patients, employees and students who choose to get vaccinated. This vaccine is offered free of charge to all eligible USF Health employees, faculty, staff and students. We will keep you informed of the vaccine supply and availability and how you can obtain your vaccination.

USF Health employees and students:

If you fall in one of the top 5 target groups, the vaccine will be available to you at the South Tampa Center on the 3rd floor beginning Thursday, October 29th at 1 pm. Please review the H1N1 Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for 2009 prior to coming for your immunization, and contact us ahead of time if you have any questions regarding your eligibility to receive the H1N1 influenza shot. If you are pregnant, you will need clearance from your OB/GYN provider and must bring the verification with you. The consent form you will complete is a duplicate. You will be given a copy for your records and we will keep the original copy to verify you have received the H1N1 influenza vaccination. Employees and students who are normally at the North Tampa Clinical sites and meet the criteria for one of the top 5 target groups, should contact the Medical Health Administration office (Employee Health) at 974-3163 or by email at llennert@health.usf.edu.

Patients:

If one of your patients falls in one of the top 5 target groups, you must write a prescription for the H1N1 vaccine and give a copy to the patient. The patient must present this order to receive the vaccine. The vaccine will be available for eligible Adult patients at the South Tampa Center on the 3rd floor beginning Thursday, October 29th at 1 pm. All eligible pediatric patients at the South Tampa Center will receive the H1N1 influenza vaccine in the Pediatric Clinic. If your patient is located at one of the North Tampa Clinical sites, the H1N1 vaccination will be handled through the clinic appointment system. If you have any further questions regarding patient vaccination at the North Tampa Clinics, please contact clinic administration at 974-2252.

It is anticipated that the Department of Heath will audit all sites who receive and distribute the vaccine. Therefore, we must ensure that we are keeping accurate records and entering the data into the Florida Shots Program.

Remember, Influenza is spread by direct and indirect contact and by droplet contact so the virus is easily spread from person to person via coughing, sneezing, and contact with contaminated items. Don’t forget to wash your hands properly and frequently and follow proper cough etiquette http://www.coughsafe.com/index.html to minimize the spread of influenza. Remind those around you, also! Stay healthy and thanks for doing your part this Flu Season!

________________________________
Linda R. Lennerth, RN, MSN
Associate Director, Medical Health Administration
Infection Prevention & Control
Employee/Student Health & Wellness
USF HEALTH – MDC 19
College of Medicine / Department of Internal Medicine
Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine
Email: llennert@health.usf.edu