H1N1 Vaccination Update
Posted: October 01, 2009
Principals & Secretaries:
Please read the attached letter from South Central Health District. The allotments to Idaho were far less than was promised (only 400 or so for the eight county region and 9000 total for the state). We obviously cannot control the availability of the vaccine, but we can use positive leadership to pass on the info and continue to do the best we can with our prevention efforts. We still need the permission form to complete a head count for future vaccination shipments. Please be positive and reassuring to parents and patrons that we are taking all the steps we can to keep kids safe and healthy. Thank you. I am a bit disappointed by this news. Thank you for all of the work to help get the parent letters out. Send any and all forms to the District Office on October 10. Stay tuned for more information.
Scott A. Rogers, Ph.D
Superintendent of Schools
Minidoka County Joint School District #331
Dear Community Partners,
RE: H1N1 Vaccine Distribution
ThereThere is an update in the initial allotment and receipt of H1N1 vaccine that has precipitated the need for me to contact you. First, let me say that South Central Public Health District’s (SCPHD) planning efforts have always been to meet the needs of the communities we serve. The initial allotment (and possibly future weeks) is much lower than originally planned.
The reason is the State of Idaho’s population in relation to the other states in the union, places us toward the bottom in terms of percentage of the allotment apportioned. Idaho receives 0.4937% of the total vaccine distributed, which in turn is broken down among the seven public health districts based on percent of the state population. Our eight-county region comprises only 12% of the total population and therefore we will experience a “trickle down” affect in the total weekly doses received into south central Idaho.
I am proposing the formulation of an Executive Steering Committee for the purpose of determining priorities and locations of mass immunization clinics for our region. The committee would be comprised of the Chair of each County Commission, a Board of Health representative, three School District Superintendents (representing a frontier, rural, and urban school district), the CEO or designee (e.g., Chief of Staff or Infection Control Nurse) for each of the area hospitals, and the CEO of Family Health Services. I will volunteer to host and facilitate this committee meeting.
I realize we all have busy schedules; but if we are to meet the intent of the National H1N1 Vaccination Program, I will need everyone’s input and recommendations to best utilize our weekly allotment of vaccine. Based upon estimates from CDC and IDHW, we will receive allotments from October 9, 2009, through January 8, 2010 (15 weeks). These allotments will cover ~60% of our population; therefore, we must adhere to the ACIP target group recommendations in order to provide the greatest coverage to those with the greatest need or risk.
I recommend we meet on October 14 at 2:00 p.m. at SCPHD’s office located at 1020 Washington Street North in Twin Falls (Katz Conference Room – north entrance). Please reply if you can attend or provide the name of your representative along with a contact number.
For more information about the H1N1 virus, please visit our H1N1 virus prevention plan page.
By: Rene R. LeBlanc, District Director, South Central Public District Health