District of Columbia: Fenty administration announces fall H1N1 response plans
Issue date: 9/13/09 Section: Neighborhood
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Department of Health (DOH) Director Dr. Pierre N.D. Vigilance have announced plans for addressing the H1N1 virus during the upcoming flu season today. The administration released information on preventing the spread of H1N1, distribution of the vaccine once it is available and where to find information on the disease.
"The District is committed to ensuring the city is as prepared as humanly possible for the upcoming flu season," said Mayor Fenty. "We encourage residents to do their part to prevent the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu by making sure to wash their hands, cover their cough and stay home if they are sick."
Even before the vaccine for H1N1 is available in October residents can still take important steps now to prevent the spread of H1N1 by following simple rules - wash your hands and cover your cough. In addition, residents should stay home if sick. Even after the vaccine is available it is essential to follow these rules to stop the spread of the disease. The H1N1 vaccine will not protect against the seasonal flu. The seasonal flu vaccine is currently available and residents should not wait until the H1N1 vaccine is available to get all of their flu vaccines.
"The Department of Health remains on the alert for the anticipated upswing in flu cases in the coming weeks, and we continue to work ensure that District residents are informed and proactive about preventing the spread of flu be it seasonal or due to H1N1," said DOH Director Dr. Vigilance.
"Even before vaccine is available for all Washingtonians, we can prevent the spread of disease by getting vaccinated for seasonal flu, practicing good hand and cough hygiene, and staying home when sick."
While the first outbreak of H1N1 last spring was relatively mild in the District compared to other major cities, the fall flu season has the potential to bring many more cases to the city. The city is prepared to address a significant increase in cases.
Vaccine Distribution - The District is working with private providers, hospitals, community health clinics and educational institutions to become vaccine distribution sites. Providers can now sign up online at doh.dc.gov to become a vaccine distribution site. Once the vaccine is available in mid-October the District will vaccinate high priority groups before the vaccine is available to the general population. These high priority groups are pregnant women, health care workers and emergency medical responders, people caring for infants less than 6 months of age, children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years, and people aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes. The District will also create mass vaccination sites to serve residents that are not served by other providers.
"The District is committed to ensuring the city is as prepared as humanly possible for the upcoming flu season," said Mayor Fenty. "We encourage residents to do their part to prevent the spread of H1N1 and seasonal flu by making sure to wash their hands, cover their cough and stay home if they are sick."
Even before the vaccine for H1N1 is available in October residents can still take important steps now to prevent the spread of H1N1 by following simple rules - wash your hands and cover your cough. In addition, residents should stay home if sick. Even after the vaccine is available it is essential to follow these rules to stop the spread of the disease. The H1N1 vaccine will not protect against the seasonal flu. The seasonal flu vaccine is currently available and residents should not wait until the H1N1 vaccine is available to get all of their flu vaccines.
"The Department of Health remains on the alert for the anticipated upswing in flu cases in the coming weeks, and we continue to work ensure that District residents are informed and proactive about preventing the spread of flu be it seasonal or due to H1N1," said DOH Director Dr. Vigilance.
"Even before vaccine is available for all Washingtonians, we can prevent the spread of disease by getting vaccinated for seasonal flu, practicing good hand and cough hygiene, and staying home when sick."
While the first outbreak of H1N1 last spring was relatively mild in the District compared to other major cities, the fall flu season has the potential to bring many more cases to the city. The city is prepared to address a significant increase in cases.
Vaccine Distribution - The District is working with private providers, hospitals, community health clinics and educational institutions to become vaccine distribution sites. Providers can now sign up online at doh.dc.gov to become a vaccine distribution site. Once the vaccine is available in mid-October the District will vaccinate high priority groups before the vaccine is available to the general population. These high priority groups are pregnant women, health care workers and emergency medical responders, people caring for infants less than 6 months of age, children and young adults from 6 months to 24 years, and people aged 25 to 64 years with underlying medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes. The District will also create mass vaccination sites to serve residents that are not served by other providers.
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