Posted on September 2nd, 2010 by Frank Fortin
The annual flu vaccine is now recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has distributed recommendations and resources for health care providers related to vaccine dosing, high risk groups, Medicare reimbursement, surveillance and testing, chemoprophylaxis and treatment, and infection control. Please see the full document (.pdf) for [...]
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Posted on August 5th, 2010 by Frank Fortin
Seasonal Flu in U.S. Influenza A (H3N2) virus infections have been recently detected in people in 12 states across the U.S., including two small localized outbreaks in Iowa, according to a CDC Health Alert. Sporadic cases of influenza and localized summer outbreaks from seasonal influenza viruses are detected each summer. Clinicians are reminded to consider [...]
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Posted on May 25th, 2010 by Frank Fortin
Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach has rescinded the emergency order he issued in September 2009 to allow certain designated health care professionals—EMTs-paramedic level, pharmacists, and dentists—and medical and nursing students to administer seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccine. He also rescinded the emergency order issued November 6, 2009 which allowed for certain compounding [...]
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Posted on March 17th, 2010 by Frank Fortin
Physicians are encouraged to order their 2010-2011 flu vaccine now. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) will not supply influenza vaccine to nursing homes and private providers for vaccination of adults. Please note that the universal distribution of H1N1 vaccine for the 2009 – 2010 influenza season was a special program fully funded by [...]
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Posted on December 17th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
Although it remains focused on vaccinating priority groups, the state Department of Public Health (DPH) today expanded H1N1 vaccine recommendations to all residents. To date, DPH has distributed over two million doses of the H1N1 vaccine, and expects to receive additional large shipments from the federal government in the next month. DPH’s initial target for [...]
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Posted on November 3rd, 2009 by Frank Fortin
H1N1 in Massachusetts There has been a continuous increase in influenza-like illness (ILI) in Massachusetts over the last few weeks. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) continues to receive reports of ILI clusters in schools and the State Laboratory is receiving an increased number of specimens for H1N1 testing. Follow-up of individual cases by [...]
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Posted on October 23rd, 2009 by Frank Fortin
H1N1 Vaccine Allocation in Massachusetts To date, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has received approximately 270,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine in all formulations, or between 5% and 10% of the total H1N1 doses it expects to receive this season. MDPH has prioritized allocation of H1N1 vaccine to ob-gyn, pediatric, family and multi-specialty practices in [...]
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Posted on October 20th, 2009 by Rebecca McDade
MDPH Announces Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Shipment Delays Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) today informed its providers that the remainder of its seasonal flu vaccine supply is expected to arrive over the course of the next 4-6 weeks with the balance of MDPH vaccine not arriving until the end of November. MDPH had previously projected [...]
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Posted on October 13th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the CDC remind you to report clinically significant adverse events after vaccination, whether or not you administered the vaccine and even if you are not sure if the vaccine caused the adverse event. Clinically significant adverse events are those events that are of concern [...]
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Posted on October 9th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
H1N1 Vaccine in Massachusetts H1N1 vaccine has begun arriving in Massachusetts. The state Department of Public Health (MDPH) reports it has received 3.1% of what Massachusetts will receive over the next 3 to 4 months. The state is allocating the doses it is currently receiving, and those it will receive in the next 3 weeks [...]
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