Distribution of Initial Delivery of H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine

MEMO
TO: Employees of Botsford Hospital
FROM: David Walters, D.O., Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
        Gerald Blackburn, D.O., Director of Infection Control
        Janet Moody, R.N., Infection Control Coordinator
DATE: Tuesday, October 27, 2009
SUBJECT:  Distribution of Initial Delivery of H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine

Our Inpatient Pharmacy has received its initial delivery of H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine. As you may have heard in the news, there is a shortage of this vaccine. Botsford Hospital received only a fraction of the amount that was ordered. Therefore, our available H1N1 vaccine serum will be offered on a priority basis to certain patient populations and certain caregiver populations beginning today.

Because children, pregnant women, and the immune suppressed are and increased risk, we have prioritized the distribution of the vaccine with this in mind.

Patients, patient care providers, including residents and attending physicians will be the first to be offered vaccine in descending order:

• OB Clinics pregnant patients and staff
• Botsford Pediatric patients and staff
• Emergency Department staff
• Postpartum patients
• Respiratory Care staff
• Child Care Center staff
• 3-North Oncology Unit staff

There is not enough vaccine to cover every patient care employee on the above units and departments. Managers of the above-named areas will determine which of their patient care employees will be offered this priority vaccination.

Updates will be forthcoming as more vaccine becomes available. Everyone needs to follow the advice below.
What to do if you get sick

• If you become ill with flu like symptoms (respiratory symptoms, sore throat, fevers, and muscle aches) you should stay home. Please be in contact with your unit/department manager since you should not come to work if you are contagious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you stay at home until you have been free of fever (100°F or 37.8°C), or signs of a fever, for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medication.
• Contact your personal physician about the need for anti-viral treatment, and watch for signs that you need immediate medical attention.