• FLU QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

 ~ "Flu" Questions & Answers ~

This section is for Members (and Staff) to ask their questions about the H1N1 flu.  I will attempt to get answers from our Holderman Hospital Healthcare Team.  Because our Healthcare Team is very busy preparing for this bad flu, I will do my best to provide answers from reputable internet sources while awaiting their replies.

Please submit your questions to Miles@VetsOrg.org.  Thank you for your help in making this a useful section to provide flu information to our Members and Staff.

Let's go to the questions:

Question:

   As far as I know, there are three overseas Companies producing the H1N1 serum and one here in the US.  They're all making the serum for the US and the world.  The one in the US has so far been contracted by the Govt. to produce 75 million "shots"  (I wonder who is checking the quality of all four Companies?)  There is a major backlog on distribution and delivery during a time when H1N1 is now being described as a real pandemic.
  My questions to you are... "Do you have any information on how home members and the Administration are affected by the serum delivery problems?"
   Because children are affected the most, due to their immune systems... and because we usually have minimal contact with children, seniors are not being targeted as a priority.  "Do you have any information to present regarding how home members can be better prepared?"

Answer:
The following is from the October 17th, 2009 issue of the
Voice of America:

"Some are concerned about the safety of the vaccine because it has been produced so fast, and because it contains a preservative that some parents say can cause autism.

Dr. Anne Schuchat from the Centers for Disease Control says the vaccine is safe and is also available without the preservative.

'We are not cutting any corners in the safety of the production of this vaccine or in the testing and oversight of this vaccine," she said. "And it's very important that this process be done carefully and safely.'"

Public health officials and doctors are redoubling efforts to promote vaccination as the best protection against H1N1."

The website for the CDC, in my opinion, is doing an excellent job on keeping the public updated.  Their website’s flu section: http://.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm.  They also address safety of the vaccine.

Regarding what Members can do, KVET is airing a recent info video done by Drs. Aaen and Howe.  You could probably call KVET and ask when the next re-broadcast is scheduled.  Their phone is 944-5068.

Thank you, Cha', for your thought-provoking question.  I hope the answer helps while I am waiting for our medics response, which I will post as soon as I receive it.  I know that many of us are concerned about this darned H1N1 flu and I appreciate your efforts to get the best info about it.

In some ways, we are sheltered here at the Home but, unfortunately, the H1H1 flu will not observe the boundaries that usually shelter us from outside dangers.  Our Healthcare Team is doing a lot of hard work to keep us informed and to keep us safe.  We can do our part by taking in this information and following the recommendations that are presented.  One of the most important things we can do to help the spread of this and other diseases is to WASH OUR HANDS thoroughly and frequently.

Please let me know your feedback and let me know of other questions that you may have.  Thanks!  ~Miles, Your Webmaster.  Miles@VetsOrg.org. 

                           ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

 ~ Response from our own Dr. Howe: ~

The following reply is provided on 10/23/09 by Julie Howe, M.D., Chief, Ambulatory Care Services, Veterans' Home of California at Yountville:

I can comment very briefly.

"Do you have any information on how home members and the Administration are affected by the serum delivery problems?"

I would not call them delivery problems.  The government is working as fast as it can to supply vaccine.  It has had to go thru the necessary safety testing process which takes time.  We are required by law to follow the prioritization scale set by the CDC.  We expect to get vaccine in this month or early November to treat all HCW at our facility and then home members as vaccine becomes available.

"Do you have any information to present regarding how home members can be better prepared?"

WHACK the flu as I describe on the video is the best protection! Get your seasonal flu vaccine now. Notify your section leader if you become ill and a nurse will come out and check on you.

Dr. Howe

Thank you, Dr. Howe, for taking the time to provide this important information to the Members.  Thanks also to you and your staff for all of your hard work to prepare the Staff and Members for this horrible H1N1 flu.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

Very Sincerely,

Miles Whitley, Website Owner

Note: The "WHACK" video to which Dr. Howe refers is shown periodically during the day on our KVET, Ch. 79 (or Ch. 27 on the "old' system) TV station.

                     ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

~ Response from Echo Connell, our own
       Infection Control Preventionist: ~

The following response was submitted on 10/26/09 by Echo
after returning from being off.
                           

I want to stress the everyday preventative measures…

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it and then WASH your HANDS.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
  • While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.   Ask your deputy or section leader to designate a private bathroom for you and to notify the Visiting Nurse thru ACC.
  • While sick, do not go to the main dining room to keep from infecting others; ask your deputy or section leader to order Meals-on-Wheels.
  • CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.
  • While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common.

Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.

                                   @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Thank you, Echo, for taking the time on your first day back to respond to the questions.  The Members are very grateful for all of the work that you and the other members of the Healthcare Team do to keep us well and healthy.  I am very pleased to be able to assist you with "spreading the word" by posting instructions, information and guidelines designed to prevent us from catching those horrible diseases.  Thank you again for all that you do for us!

Sincerely,
Miles Whitley, Website Owner 

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