December 2, 2009
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and the 45 local health departments in the state have agreed that all counties will concentrate on the five target groups to receive the H1N1 vaccine as recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and focusing solely on subsets of the target groups is no longer necessary.
The MDCH and local departments began the new plan on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Vaccination for the general population possibly may begin in a few weeks but only after data from local health departments and healthcare partners assures that target groups throughout the state have had an adequate chance for vaccination.
"We must be sure that the population most vulnerable to the H1N1 flu is safe and protected before we expand the availability of the vaccine," said Dr. Eden Wells, state medical epidemiologist. "While more and more vaccine is coming into the state more quickly everyday, we still have to be sure we have an adequate supply for the target groups before opening the vaccine to the general public."
These target groups are:
- Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;
- Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants younger than 6 months old might help protect infants by "cocooning" them from the virus;
- Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;
- All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
o Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza have been seen in children who are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
o Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because many cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza have been seen in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and,
- Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza, such as asthma, diabetes, heart, lung or kidney problems or a weakened immune system.
For more information, see www.michigan.gov/flu
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