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CONTACT: Stephanie Marquis, (608)
266-1683
STATE
RECOMMENDS PRIORITIZATION OF H1N1 VACCINE
DHS Urges Prioritization Within Target Groups Until Vaccine Supply
Increases
MADISON - The Department of Health Services (DHS) is recommending
that local health departments and health professionals target H1N1 vaccine
for those individuals most-at-risk during the next several weeks as the
vaccine supply continues to fluctuate. DHS has also requested that,
beginning next week, public and private health care providers refrain from
mass public vaccination clinics, unless they are targeted at those most at
risk. As of today, Wisconsin has been allocated a total of 407,000 doses
of H1N1 vaccine.
“As we have seen in every state in the nation, the supply of H1N1
vaccine is unpredictable. Therefore, the safest course of action is to
target the vaccine we do have for those who are most-at-risk of becoming
seriously ill from this virus,” says Secretary Karen Timberlake. “While
we do not anticipate this will need to be a long-term strategy, we’ve
issued guidance to help our health professionals make the largest impact
with the vaccine that is available.”
DHS is now recommending that the public health and health care
community focus vaccination efforts on the following subset of CDC’s
target groups:
- Pregnant women
- Persons who live with or provide care for infants age 6 months or
younger (examples: parents, siblings, daycare providers)
- Health care and emergency medical services personnel who have
direct contact with patients or infectious material
- Children age 6 months - 4 years
- Children and adolescents age 5-18 years who have chronic medical
conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related
complications (see attached letter for list of chronic medical conditions)
These recommendations are consistent with the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices guidelines when vaccine supply is limited. The
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices advises the CDC.
“The CDC had to choose between waiting to distribute vaccine until it
had large quantities ready to be shipped or distributing limited
quantities of the vaccine sooner,” says Secretary Timberlake. “The CDC
chose the latter knowing it would create some challenges and frustrations
for health care providers and the public, but also realizing it would
allow us to start protecting people against this virus as soon as
possible.”
Community vaccination clinics will resume as H1N1 vaccine becomes more
readily available. People may call 2-1-1 to find out an H1N1 or seasonal
influenza vaccine clinic nearest them. A “clinic finder” is also
available online at http://pandemic.wisconsin.gov
or www.wisconsinfluclinic.info.
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Last Revised: July 12, 2010 |
