MI
http://www.freep.com/article/20091103/NEWS05/911030320/?imw=Y
Posted: Nov. 3, 2009
H1N1 flu vaccine shortage possible in Michigan
State need exceeds the allocated doses
BY MEGHA SATYANARAYANA
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified a health system that is limiting visitors. This report is correct.
State health officials said Monday that there are fewer than 1 million doses of H1N1 vaccine allocated to Michigan right now, but there are 5 million people — about half of those in the state — who are high-risk individuals in need of the vaccine.
In other states, the vaccine is trickling in as officials try to meet the needs of high-risk populations.
As orders are placed and fulfilled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “we’re getting it out as quickly as possible,” said Bob Swanson, Michigan Department of Community Health director of the immunization division. “Orders are placed on a daily basis.”
Since Sept. 1, there have been 396 H1N1-related hospitalizations and 16 deaths, all adults, in Michigan. Most of the people hospitalized have had underlying medical conditions. It’s unusual to see this much flu so soon, said Dr. Greg Holzman, chief medical officer for the state health department. “We’re seeing numbers you might see at the peak of a bad flu season,” he said.
Federal health officials announced initial results of clinical trials in pregnant women Monday. At day 21 after immunization, 47 of 50 pregnant women had an immune response predicted to be protective. Further analysis of clinical trials in children supported the recommendation of two doses of the vaccine to achieve best protection.
As the virus continues to spread, and vaccine is still in short supply, the University of Michigan and St. Joseph Mercy health systems are limiting visitors to those older than 16 who have no flu symptoms.
Admitted patients can have only two visitors at a time. This affects hospitals and treatment facilities in the U-M health system and at St. Joseph Mercy locations in Ann Arbor, Livingston County, Oakland County and Saline and at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia and Chelsea Community Hospital.
Contact MEGHA SATYANARAYANA: 313-223-4544 or megha@freepress.com
MI
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/michigan/Some_hospitals_dont_require_vaccines
Some hospitals don’t require vaccines
Other hospital policies mandate employee shots
Updated: Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 7:11 PM EST
Published : Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 6:08 PM EST
By Jessica Leffler
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - The decision on whether to require hospital employees to receive the either seasonal or swine flu vaccinations is up to each West Michigan facility.
Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo requires all employees to receive certain vaccinations. About 75 percent of the hospital’s employees have received the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. Bronson is working to ensure every employee in each department of the hospital gets his or her shots to protect against the flu.
“It was our job to protect as many employees as we could and allocate that vaccine,” said Dr. Richard VanEnk, Bronson Hospital’s Director of Infection and Epidemiology. “So, the key there is, you need to have all of your departments that are essential to your (business) functioning, covered and protected.”
After Hurricane Katrina, Bronson upgraded its emergency preparedness plan. VanEnk said mandating vaccines is a “minimum work requirement.”
At Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, about 86 percent of the employees have been vaccinated, a spokesperson told 24 Hour News 8. The hospital does not mandate shot vaccinations — seasonal or H1N1 — but “strongly encourages it.”
Mercy General Health Partners in Muskegon and Borgess Hospital have similar policies to Saint Mary’s — vaccinations aren’t required but encouraged.
Metro Hospital in Grand Rapids does not require seasonal or H1N1 vaccines, and if an employee doesn’t want a shot, he or she must fill out a form stating a reason.
Battle Creek Health Systems mandates vaccinations, but people can be excused for religious, medical or personal reasons. If someone is cleared to go without the vaccine for his or her reasons, the employee has to wear a mask at all times while at work and eat in a separate area. The vaccine has been mandated for about two years, said Peter Phelps, a public relations spokesman.
In 2008, 93 percent of Battle Creek’s employees received the seasonal flu vaccine and 7 percent got a waiver. The specific reasons the 7 percent of employees gave are not known.