Posted on October 2nd, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The victim was a 55-year-old woman from Middlesex County with "multiple underlying health conditions." Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach's statement said, in part, “While most cases of H1N1 in Massachusetts and across the nation have been relatively mild, this news demonstrates once again how serious flu can be.” Read the complete DPH announcement. [...]
Filed under: Flu, Flu Advisory, H1N1 | No Comments »
Posted on September 29th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The state Department of Public Health will host a webcast of its Statewide H1N1 Conference. The webcast will be archived on the webcast web site for one year. The program will include an H1N1 situation update and outlook for the months ahead, and discussion of activities related to H1N1, clinical management, surge capacity, vaccination, DPH [...]
Filed under: Flu, Flu Advisory, H1N1 | No Comments »
Posted on September 28th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The AMA today announced two new CPT codes for the upcoming H1N1 immunizations. Coding from the AMA: Use code 90470 to report H1N1 immunization administration and counseling. Code 90663 was revised by the CPT Editorial Panel to refer specifically to the H1N1 vaccine product. Both, revised code 90663 and Category I CPT Code 90470 are [...]
Filed under: Flu, Flu Advisory, H1N1, Swine Flu | No Comments »
Posted on September 17th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved four vaccines against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The vaccines will be distributed nationally after the initial lots become available, which is expected within the next four weeks. The state will be responsible for distributing vaccine to health care and public health providers. Massachusetts health care practices [...]
Filed under: Flu, Flu Advisory, H1N1, Swine Flu | No Comments »
Posted on September 8th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The state Department of Public Health (DPH) has launched its online registration for H1N1 vaccine. This fall, the federal government will provide states with H1N1 vaccine and supplies (needles, syringes, sharps containers, alcohol swabs, H1N1 immunization cards) at no cost. DPH is responsible for directing the vaccine and supplies in Massachusetts. Providers (including private providers, [...]
Filed under: Flu, Flu Advisory, H1N1, Swine Flu | No Comments »
Posted on August 14th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
On Wednesday, the state Public Health Council adopted emergency regulations to increase vaccination among health care workers and the public against seasonal and pandemic influenza. The regulations promulgated by the MA Department of Public Health (DPH) require hospitals and clinics in the state to offer vaccinations to their employees, patient care volunteers and medical staff [...]
Filed under: Flu, Flu Advisory, H1N1, Swine Flu | No Comments »
Posted on August 13th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) announced its recommendations for novel H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine when it becomes available. ACIP recommends that vaccination efforts focus on five key populations. When vaccine is first available, the committee recommended that programs and providers try to vaccinate: pregnant women people who live with or care for [...]
Filed under: Flu, Flu Advisory, H1N1, Swine Flu | No Comments »
Posted on June 26th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
An official of the Mass. Department of Public Health wrote today that reports of flu-like illnesses are down from their peak of three weeks ago. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported, also, that flu-like illness in the New England region is returning to normal levels. Read more from the DPH blog post [...]
Filed under: Flu Advisory | No Comments »
Posted on June 18th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
This advisory from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) is intended to provide guidance for the diagnosis and management of pregnant women with influenza like illness (ILI) during the current outbreak of novel influenza A H1N1 in Massachusetts. Pregnant women are known to be at higher risk for complications from infection with seasonal influenza [...]
Filed under: Flu Advisory | No Comments »
Posted on June 17th, 2009 by Frank Fortin
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging health care professionals to vaccinate all individuals for whom PPSV vaccine is recommended to protect them from pneumococcal disease during this H1N1 influenza outbreak. Of special concern are persons with high-risk conditions for whom PPSV vaccine is recommended, but to whom the vaccine is rarely [...]
Filed under: Flu Advisory | No Comments »
