Media

For Immediate Release:
September 2, 2009 Contact: DOH Communications Office 850-245-4111

www.MyFluSafety.com

September 2, 12:20 p.m.

Florida Flu Information Line 1-877-352-3581

On Monday, August 24th, Florida Department of Health launched a toll-free number to provide public health information and updates on H1N1 Swine flu. The information line is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT, seven days a week. Information is available in English, Spanish and Creole.

*To align our media updates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention schedule, we will send a media update each Wednesday noting any significant events that have taken place during the reporting period. Please note that following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, we will no longer be collecting numbers of confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu cases.

Additional laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths have been verified in that of the following: A 26-year-old female from Duval County, a 52-year-old male from Duval County, a 50-year-old female from Orange County, and a 50-year-old female from Pinellas County. While most cases of H1N1 Swine Flu are mild, there are exceptions. Pre-existing health conditions often play a role in how individuals react to the flu. To-date, there have been 70 laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths in Florida.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of these individuals, " said Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros. " H1N1 Swine Flu, like seasonal flu, can in some circumstances be very serious, therefore, all of us should continue to adhere to good health practices including, stay home if sick, cover cough and sneeze, and wash hands frequently."

All four Department of Health laboratories have received testing supplies from the Center for Diseases Control and can test samples to confirm H1N1 Swine Flu. This testing capability allows the Department to expedite results as we no longer need to send probable cases to CDC laboratories.

The Department of Health continues its enhanced surveillance and outreach to physicians, hospitals, and other health care professionals. The surveillance system, consisting of sentinel physicians reporting influenza activity, DOH laboratories receiving specimens from physicians and hospitals, and our ability to monitor emergency room cases is fully operational. We have activated our response plan and are ready to respond if needed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) alert level is at Phase 6 "pandemic." The pandemic (WHO level 6) status is based on geographic distribution and not the severity of swine flu. In effect the WHO is saying that swine flu H1N1 is now circulating world-wide.

The State Surgeon General provided these recommendations:

People with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community.

Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.

People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.

If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home.

For Immediate Release

September 2nd, 2009

Contact: Deb Millsap 252-8220

Health Department Planning for Vaccinations

Collier: The Collier County Health Department (CCHD) asks that people continue to stay informed about H1N1 Swine flu as information emerges. CCHD Director, Joan Colfer, M.D., M.P.H., explains, “We are in daily contact with the State Health Department regarding immunization planning efforts and we are working proactively with our local partners in emergency management, hospitals, healthcare practices, schools and law enforcement to finalize our plans to deliver seasonal and H1N1 swine flu vaccinations”. As soon as, the clinic schedules are defined, the CCHD will post them on their website, CollierPrepares.org and on their information line, 252-8200.

At this time, the CCHD is planning to offer:

•Seasonal flu vaccine beginning the last week of September
•H1N1 Swine flu vaccine beginning approximately mid-October

“Although specific dates and times of these clinics are not yet determined, we urge everyone to consider obtaining a seasonal flu shot, as well as, two doses of H1N1 Swine vaccine when it becomes available. Information changes daily, but at this point, we anticipate everyone will need two doses of H1N1 vaccine because of the nature of this novel virus”, states Colfer.

In the meantime, the Health Department encourages everyone to be vigilant about the following:

•Stay home if you are ill. Do not send ill children to school or day care.
•Wash hands frequently.
•Sneeze or cough into your upper arm – not into your hands.
•Stay informed by:

◦Logging on to CollierPrepares.org
◦Calling Florida’s H1N1 Swine Hotline: 1-877-352-FLU1 (3581)
◦Checking the CCHD phone line, 252-8200, for clinic schedules(available after September 18th)

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For Immediate Release:
September 9 , 2009 Contact: DOH Communications Office 850-245-4111

www.MyFluSafety.com

September 9, 3:30 p.m.

Florida Flu Information Line 1-877-352-3581

On Monday, August 24th, Florida Department of Health launched a toll-free number to provide public health information and updates on H1N1 Swine flu. The information line is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT, seven days a week. Information is available in English, Spanish and Creole.

*To align our media updates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention schedule, we will send a media update each Wednesday noting any significant events that have taken place during the reporting period. Please note that following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, we will no longer be collecting numbers of confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu cases.

Additional laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths have been verified in the following: an 8-month-old male in Broward County, a 9-month-old male in Duval County, a 52-year-old female in Orange County, a 33-year-old female in Palm Beach County, a 20-year-old male in Pinellas County, a 23-year-old male in St. Lucie County, and a 51-year-old male in St. Lucie County. While most cases of H1N1 Swine Flu are mild, there are exceptions. Pre-existing health conditions often play a role in how individuals react to the flu. To-date, there have been 77 laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths in Florida.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of these individuals, " said Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros. " H1N1 Swine Flu, like seasonal flu, can in some circumstances be very serious, therefore, all of us should continue to adhere to good health practices including, stay home if sick, cover cough and sneeze, and wash hands frequently."

The Department of Health continues its enhanced surveillance and outreach to physicians, hospitals, and other health care professionals. The surveillance system, consisting of sentinel physicians reporting influenza activity, DOH laboratories receiving specimens from physicians and hospitals, and our ability to monitor emergency room cases is fully operational. We have activated our response plan and are ready to respond if needed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) alert level is at Phase 6 "pandemic." The pandemic (WHO level 6) status is based on geographic distribution and not the severity of swine flu. In effect the WHO is saying that swine flu H1N1 is now circulating world-wide.

The State Surgeon General provided these recommendations:

People with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community.

• Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.

People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.

If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home.

September 17th, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact: Deb Millsap, 239-293-3003

Spanish Contact: Paula DiGrigoli (239) 252-5361

Seasonal Flu Vaccine Clinics Available in Collier

Collier: The Collier County Health Department is offering seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccines at the following locations, dates and times: in Everglades City on Thursday September 24th from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Roller Rink (205 Buckner Ave.) and on Marco Island on Monday September 28th from 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM at Mackle Community Park (1361 Andalusia Court). Cost is $30 for flu shots and $45 for pneumonia shots. Medicare Part B will be accepted if card is presented. Dates and locations of additional clinics will be announced within the week. For questions, call 252-8220.

The Senior Friendship Center (811 7th Ave. South, Naples) will offer seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccines on the following dates and times: September 14th, 21st & 28th from 1 – 3 pm; October 5th, 12th & 19th and November 9th & 16th from 9 am – Noon. Cost for seasonal flu vaccine is $30 and $45 for pneumonia vaccine. Medicare Part B will be accepted. For questions, call 263-7425.

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September 22nd, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact: Deb Millsap (239) 252-8220

Spanish Contact: Paula DiGrigoli (239) 252-5361

Getting Vaccinated – Especially Important in this Unique Flu Season

Even if you normally don't get a seasonal flu shot, in this unique year of flu -- when we have two flus circulating, health experts strongly recommend everyone (unless you have an allergy or health reason that prohibits you) protect yourselves, your loved ones and community by obtaining a seasonal flu vaccine. You don't want to become ill with seasonal flu and then co-infected with H1N1 flu! Even if the infection is mild for you, you may end up spreading it to someone who will have a more severe reaction to it. Although seasonal flu tends to be most severe in very young children and adults over age 50, surveillance indicates H1N1 Swine flu hospitalizations and deaths have been most prevalent in 25 - 49 year olds. Many of the deaths have been in people who have underlying health conditions, but some have been in otherwise healthy individuals. Getting vaccinated first for seasonal flu and then for H1N1 Swine flu, when it becomes available, can help prevent these tragedies.

Although H1N1 Swine flu vaccine is not yet available, the following options are available for obtaining a seasonal flu vaccine:

At local pharmacies

Through the Health Department and Senior Friendship clinics as follows:

Everglades City on Thursday September 24th from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Roller Rink (205 Buckner Ave. ), on Marco Island on Monday September 28th from 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM at Mackle Community Park (1361 Andalusia Court) , at the North Collier Regional Park Exhibit Hall (15000 Livingston Road, Naples) on September 29th from 10 am - 6 pm, and at the Immokalee Health Department Clinic (419 North 1st Street, Immokalee) on September 30th from 9 am - 7 pm. Cost is $30 for flu shots and $45 for pneumonia shots. Medicare Part B will be accepted if card is presented. Dates and locations of additional clinics will be announced as they are scheduled..

The Senior Friendship Center (811 7th Ave. South, Naples) will offer seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccines on the following dates and times: September 28th from 1 – 3 pm; October 5th, 12th & 19th and November 9th & 16th from 9 am – Noon. Cost for seasonal flu vaccine is $30 and $45 for pneumonia vaccine. Medicare Part B will be accepted.

Stay informed with the latest Seasonal and H1N1 Swine Flu information by going to www.CollierPrepares.org or calling the Florida Department of Health Flu Information Line at 1-877-FLU-FLA1 (1-877-353-3581). Information Line assistance is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week in English, Spanish and Creole

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September 22nd, 2009

Announcement of News Conference

Contact: Deb Millsap 252-8220 or 293-3003

for Spanish: Paula DiGrigoli 252-5361

News Conference - Thursday, September 24th at 10:30 am

-Collier County Health Department to Discuss How Community Will Access H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine-

When: September 24th, 10:30 am

Where: Emergency Services Center (8075 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples), in the Media Briefing Room

Who: Media Partners

Why: Collier County Health Department Director, Dr. Joan Colfer will give an update on the latest issues and planning concerning Seasonal & H1N1 Swine Flu.

Collier County School System Superintendent, Dr. Dennis Thompson will also be available for comment and questions.

How: After driving through main gate, park in the visitors section and check in at the main lobby. The news conference will be held in the 3rd floor Media Briefing

Room.

Note: Spanish spokeperson will be available to the Spanish media

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For Immediate Release

September 24th, 2009

Contact: Deb Millsap 239-252-8220, 239-293-3003

For Spanish: Paula DiGrigoli 239-252-5361

Health Department Director Announces How to Access Seasonal & H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccines

Collier: At a news conference earlier today, Dr. Joan Colfer, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the Collier County Health Department encouraged the community to obtain their seasonal flu vaccine now and plan to get vaccinated for H1N1 Swine flu when the vaccine become available locally. “Getting vaccinated is the number one way to prevent becoming ill with flu”, urged Dr. Colfer. Seasonal flu vaccine is available in the community now at local pharmacies and through community clinics hosted by the Collier County Health Department and others (See attached schedule).

H1N1 Swine flu vaccine should be shipped to Collier County sometime around mid-October. Dr. Colfer explained the vaccine has passed clinical trials with flying colors with the Centers for Disease Control confirmation it is a safe and effective vaccine. Now the vaccines manufacturers are producing the vaccine as quickly as possible with the intention of creating an adequate supply to vaccinate every American. Counties will receive shipments every two weeks and although the initial allotment may be only a couple thousand doses, the supply should quickly meet the demand. However, until it does, individuals in the highest risk groups will be asked to obtain their vaccinations first. The first priority group includes:

Pregnant women

Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months (e.g. parents, siblings and daycare providers)

Persons aged 6 months – 24 years

Persons aged 25 – 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu-related complications

Health care and emergency medical services personnel who, by nature of their jobs, are at higher risk of exposure to the flu

Dr. Colfer reported if the first shipment of vaccine is as small as anticipated, the plan will be to give the vaccine to local pediatricians and administer it at day care centers. As the supply of local vaccine increases, the Health Department will offer it to everyone in the first priority group and ultimately make it available to everyone living in or visiting Collier County. There will be several different opportunities for H1N1 Swine Vaccination in the coming months. Dr. Dennis Thompson, Superintendent, Collier County Public Schools, discussed how the school system has partnered with the Health Department to make the vaccine available in every school. With signed parental consent, children will be able to receive their protective vaccine right in their own school. The Health Department will also be reaching out to day care centers and to the community at large through clinics located in the north and south ends of the community. Although the southern location is still being negotiated, the northern clinic site will be at the North Collier Regional Park. An exceptional effort has been made to select locations where there will be a good traffic flow for potentially large numbers of people to enter and exit the clinic in a timely manner. In addition, several local physicians will make the vaccine available to their patients and Physicians Regional Medical Centers plan to offer community vaccination clinics at their two hospitals in Collier.

Colfer enlightened the audience, “although seasonal flu tends to cause the greatest number of complications leading to hospitalizations or death in the very young or very old, surveillance of the H1N1 Swine flu in Florida indicates deaths are highest in the 24-64 years olds”. Approximately 25% of those deaths are in people who do not have underlying health conditions. This has health officials concerned and reinforces the importance of everyone protecting themselves, their loved one and their community by:

· Getting vaccinated for both seasonal and H1N1 Swine flu

· Washing hands often

· Sneezing or coughing into the sleeve of their upper arm or into a tissue

· Staying home (and keeping sick children home) if ill

Information given in the media packet of today’s news conference is attached.

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For Immediate Release:
September 30, 2009 Contact: DOH Communications Office 850-245-4111

www.MyFluSafety.com

September 30th 12:35 pm

The Centers for Disease Control and prevention has reported that the Clinical trials for the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine for healthy adults are going well with no adverse side effects among those tested.

The Centers for Disease Control and Health and Human Services recently announced that healthy adults will require just one dose of the vaccine.

Florida Flu Information Line 1-877-352-3581

On Monday, August 24th, Florida Department of Health launched a toll-free number to provide public health information and updates on H1N1 Swine flu. The information line is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT, seven days a week. Information is available in English, Spanish and Creole.

*To align our media updates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention schedule, we will send a media update each Wednesday noting any significant events that have taken place during the reporting period. Please note that following the lead of the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, we will no longer be collecting numbers of confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu cases.

Additional laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths have been verified in the following: a 41-year-old female in Alachua County, a 46-year-old female in Broward County, a 25-year-old male in Duval County, a 55-year-old female in Duval County, a 56-year-old female in Duval County, a 39-year-old male in Hillsborough County, a 47-year-old female in Hillsborough County, a 13-year-old female in Levy County, a 27-year-old female in Manatee County, a 39-year-old male in Pinellas County, and a 52-year-old male in Santa Rosa County. While most cases of H1N1 Swine Flu are mild, there are exceptions. Pre-existing health conditions often play a role in how individuals react to the flu. To-date, there have been 102 laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths in Florida.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of these individuals, " said Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros. " H1N1 Swine Flu, like seasonal flu, can in some circumstances be very serious, therefore, all of us should continue to adhere to good health practices including, stay home if sick, cover cough and sneeze, and wash hands frequently."

The Department of Health continues its enhanced surveillance and outreach to physicians, hospitals, and other health care professionals. The surveillance system, consisting of sentinel physicians reporting influenza activity, DOH laboratories receiving specimens from physicians and hospitals, and our ability to monitor emergency room cases is fully operational. We have activated our response plan and are ready to respond if needed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) alert level is at Phase 6 "pandemic." The pandemic (WHO level 6) status is based on geographic distribution and not the severity of swine flu. In effect the WHO is saying that swine flu H1N1 is now circulating world-wide.

The State Surgeon General provided these recommendations:

People with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community.

§ Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.

§ Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

§ Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.

People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.

If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home.

October 14th, 2009

For Immediate ReleaseContact: Deb Millsap, 252-8220

For Spanish: Paula DiGrigoli, 252-5361

H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine Arrives in Collier County

Collier: Collier County received 1900 doses of H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine late Tuesday. Although this initial shipment is limited, weekly shipments are expected with the anticipation all Collier residents and visitors will have an opportunity to obtain the vaccine in the coming months. Yesterday’s vaccine shipment contained only the H1N1 Swine flu FluMist vaccine, a nasal spray alternative to the standard H1N1 flu shot. FluMist contains a small amount of live, but weakened vaccine. It is only recommended for healthy individuals between the ages of 2 – 49.

To utilize this first shipment of vaccine most effectively and give it to high risk individuals who can receive FluMist, it will be administered as follows:

· The Health Department will give begin vaccinating children (with signed parental consent) in daycare centers.

· To local pediatricians who have ordered the vaccine and offered to give the vaccine to their highest risk patients.

· To healthcare and emergency services personnel who have direct patient contact.

The Health Department is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to ensure those at the highest risk for H1N1 Swine flu and its related complications are vaccinated first. The first priority group includes:

Pregnant women

Persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months (e.g. parents, siblings and daycare providers)

Persons aged 6 months – 24 years

Persons aged 25 – 64 years who have medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu-related complications

Health care and emergency medical services personnel who by nature of their job are at higher risk of exposure to the flu

The Health Department does not currently have enough vaccine to open a community vaccination clinic. However, now that vaccine is being shipped weekly, we anticipate opening a community vaccination clinic during the last week of October for individuals in the first priority group as listed above. The Health Department will announce specific locations, dates and times where the community can access the vaccine. The community can also obtain this information by visiting www.CollierPrepares.org or www.myflusafety.com, or call 252-8200 and chose option 2 on the message line.

To stay up to date on local and national issues related to H1N1 Swine flu, visit www.CollierPrepares.org. The Florida Department of Health offers a 24 hour flu information line for questions in English, Spanish or Creole: 1-877-FLA-FLU1.

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