Influenza

JDMG will begin vaccinating “high risk” patients in mid-September.  Patients are considered to be high risk if they have the following conditions: Asthma, COPD, Renal Failure, Congestive Heart Failure, Diabetes, Children 6 months to 18 years, patients 50 years of age and older, pregnant women, healthcare workers, people who care for people with high risk conditions, people who care for children less than 6 months of age and people who live in nursing homes.   The flu shot cost $55.

H1N1  (also known as Swine Flu)

The CDC is expected to release H1N1 vaccine to the Health Departments in late October.  It is anticipated that JDMG will be able to work with the Health Department to distribute this to its patients; however, there is no guarantee that we will have access to this vaccine.   This vaccine will initially be given to high-risk patients.  Patients are considered to be high risk if they have the following conditions:  Pregnant women, people who care for children less than 6 months of age, healthcare workers, people 6 months to 24 years of age, people 25 through 64 years of age who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from Influenza (see above).  As more vaccine becomes available, the rest of the population will be vaccinated.  If the vaccine does become available, there will be no charge for it; the only charge will be an administration fee of $35.

Signs and Symptoms

Influenza

Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms:
Fever (usually high)
Headache
Tiredness (can be extreme)
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches
Diarrhea and vomiting (more common among children than adults)
Having these symptoms does not always mean that you have the flu. Many different illnesses, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms.

H1N1

The symptoms of H1N1 in people are expected to be similar to the symptoms of regular human seasonal influenza and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with H1N1 also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Initial target groups for immunization in the face of a robust vaccine supply (order does not reflect priority)*

- Pregnant women
- Those living with/providing care to infants <6 months (e.g., parents, siblings, daycare providers)
- Healthcare and EMS personnel

1. Persons working in healthcare with potential exposure to influenza, infectious materials, including body substances, contaminated medical supplies and equipment, or contaminated environmental surfaces. 
2. HCP might include (but are not limited to) physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, therapist, technicians, emergency medical service personnel, dental personnel, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, autopsy personnel, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the healthcare facility and persons (e.g., clerical, dietary, housekeeping, maintenance and volunteers) not directly involved in patient care but potentially exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted to and from HCP in acute-care hospitals, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, physician’s offices, urgent care centers and outpatient clinics and to persons who provide home health care and emergency medical services
3. EMS personnel might include persons (e.g., emergency medical technicians and fire fighters) who provide emergency medical care as part of their normal job duties.

- Persons aged 6 months to 24 years

- Persons aged 25 to 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

Initial target subgroups in the face of a limited vaccine supply (order does not reflect priority)*

• Pregnant women

• Those living with/providing care for infants <6 months, (e.g., parents, siblings, and daycare providers),

• Healthcare and EMS personnel with direct contact with patients or infectious material,

• Children 6 months to 4 years

• Children and adolescents 5 to 18 years with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

A definition of some importance

Medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

- Chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus) or

- Immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus)

Please feel free to contact us with any questions and we will continue to update our website as information becomes available.