Small Town News

Health Department preparing for mass H1N1 vaccinations

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Volunteers sought to help with effort

The Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department is continuing to prepare for a planned mass vaccination drive this fall against the H1N1 virus, popularly known as swine flu, though the exact date when the drive will begin is still unknown.

The virus has yet to reach this local area, according to the health department's information director, Kristy Toupal. "Right now we still have no confirmed cases (of H1N1) in Huerfano or Las Animas County," she said. "Right now they're looking at possibly mid-October to start sending out the vaccines."

The coming vaccination drive was mandated by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the relevant sectors of the federal government.

Testing is still underway on the vaccination for certain demographic populations. "We got word that the test populations for the 18-65 (age groups) and the 65 and older, that one vaccine will be enough," Toupal said.

It had been previously assumed that the vaccine would come in a series of possibly two shots spaced out over a period of weeks. "They're still waiting on the children and the pregnant women's test results," Toupal said.

She added that while it was still unknown when the health department would receive the vaccinations, plans were in place to prioritize target groups for inoculation. "First is pregnant women, followed by health care workers with direct contact with patients and caregivers of children under six months," she said. "Then we would go to the school-age children, and then it goes the 24 to 65 (age group) and then 65 and older."

Toupal noted that the prioritization for the HIN 1 vaccines reversed the seasonal flu vaccination process. "Seasonal flu, we actually start with the older population, the 65 and older, then do the kids and then everybody else," she said.

The health department is planning to vaccinate against H1N1 at area schools in both counties, though an exact date for that has yet to be set. "We'll give plenty of notice to parents and the school administration," Toupal said.

As explained by health department Executive Director Mary Garcia at an August planning meeting of local health, law enforcement and community leaders, the H IN 1 virus has continued to mutate since drawing international attention in the spring. "What happens to this little virus is that it jumps from continent to continent and.. .it...mutates itself,"

Garcia said at the meeting. "The thing that has the CDC and the CDPHE and everyone so concerned is that this virus is acting very much like the one in 1918 did." The 1918 outbreak of influenza -- also known as The Great Influenza Pandemic -- did initially act in the terms described by Garcia -- appearing, subsiding, then reappearing in mutated form -- before going on to kill more people than World War I. Estimates as to the death toll from the epidemic vary wildly, but are generally accepted to be somewhere in the tens of millions.

"What the 1918 virus did, and we're finding that this (current) virus is doing, is that it likes to hit the lungs and then it basically turns them to mush. In the 1918 virus, people were dead in three days," Garcia had said at the planning meeting. "Everyone asks why are we doing this (mass vaccination)? We're doing it because we're better off vaccinating this population than saving their lives later."

Qualified health care providers are currently being sought by the health department to assist in the vaccination drive, as well as nonprofessionals to assist in associated clerical work. Interested parties can pick up volunteer forms at the department's offices on Bene-dicta Avenue next to the hospital.

The health department is also currently offering seasonal flu vaccinations, with prices set at $25 for adults and $10 for 18 and under. Medicare and Medicaid are also accepted, though the health department cannot bill private insurance for the shots. Those desiring shots are asked to call ahead at 846-2213 to ensure a qualified nurse is available to give the shots.

The health department is also seeking citizens or companies willing to donate walking refrigerators, refrigerated trucks and other proper storage space to help transport and store vaccines at the proper temperature during the vaccination efforts. Interested parties can contact the health department at 846-2213.

Additional information can be found on the health department's website at www.la-h-health.org or the CDC website at cdc.gov/flu or also online at flu.gov.



Copyright 2009 The Trinidad Times Independent, Trinidad, Colorado. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 The Trinidad Times Independent Trinidad, Colorado. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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