By PAULA CALKINS LACOMBE, DR. WOUTER RIETSEMA and LAURIE WILLIAMS
The Clinton County Health Department has begun to receive shipments of both H1N1 and seasonal influenza vaccine in amounts large enough to launch both school and open public clinics to the residents of Clinton County.
Over the last several months, the supply of both vaccines has been limited, and H1N1 was distributed to very specific target populations who were considered at greater risk for complications from H1N1 infection (Centers for Disease Control guidelines). As production and availability of both vaccines has increased, the public demand can now be met.
Many in the community may believe that H1N1 had minimal health impact on our community and the "the worst" is over. History tells us that an influenza pandemic can include up to three waves of illness.
The first wave was experienced in April and the second wave over the last three months. The level of illness in our community was significant, and the health infrastructure impact should not be downplayed. National health officials are estimating the time of arrival for a possible third H1N1 wave to be late January 2010.
Local pediatric offices were severely impacted with both illness and demand for vaccine. The CVPH Medical Center and the SUNY Plattsburgh Health Center had ill patients lined up in hallways waiting to be seen.
The hospital implemented a piece of their emergency plan that established a "triage" site for care in one of their hospital bays. School attendance across all districts in the county was hard hit, and one school district had to close its door due to widespread illness. While the planned systems for public health emergencies like H1N1 went well, the strain placed upon the system was significant.
In an effort to prevent the same health infrastructure impact from happening should a third wave appear, health officials cannot overstate the continued importance of being vaccinated for both seasonal and H1N1 influenza. The timing of a third wave is expected to overlap with regular seasonal influenza in late January. In essence, both influenza illnesses are likely to be happening at the same time.
It is estimated that approximately 20-25 percent of our county population has been infected and recovered from H1N1 illness and another 10 percent vaccinated. While this may seem significant, the reality is that close to 50-65 percent of our residents are still at risk for illness.
It is estimated that close to 10 percent of our population is now protected against seasonal influenza. While these numbers are impressive from a service provision standpoint, health-care providers, hospital administrators and many other health-care-system members remain concerned and continue to prepare for another round of illness.
The H1N1 vaccine is offered free to all who wish to be protected. The seasonal influenza shot costs $30. The success of the seasonal influenza vaccine in protecting the public's health is indisputable. The H1N1 vaccine is manufactured the same exact way and is safe and effective.
To have a vaccine available in the middle of an influenza pandemic is highly unusual and extremely fortunate. Do the right thing, step up, protect yourself, your family and those in our community that are medically compromised and get vaccinated.
Once the final clinic dates, locations and times are finalized, a complete listing will appear in most media outlets. Over the holidays, give yourself the best gift of all, vaccination against H1N1 and seasonal influenza.
Paula Calkins Lacombe is Clinton County director of Public Health; Dr. Wouter Rietsema, MD, is CVPH Medical Center vice president of medical affairs; Laurie Williams is the Health Department public-information officer.
