Health director urges others to get flu shot

Special Section: Swine Flu Resources, Links

PROVIDENCE—State Health Director David Gifford set an example for other Rhode Islanders on Thursday by getting his seasonal flu shot.

Gifford rolled up his sleeve during a State House news conference, where health officials also called for volunteers as they firm up plans to get the swine flu vaccine to every school in the state.

Rhode Island has not had any reported cases of the H1N1 virus in two weeks, but health officials said that will change. Members of the state’s H1N1 response team have been monitoring the swine flu since the spring, and they are revving up those efforts with the start of the new school year. 

“I’m estimating that we will likely see H1N1 really starting to take off sometime in October,“ Gifford said.

That’s right about the time the H1N1 vaccine should be arriving. 

In advance of that, Gifford recommends that people—especially the elderly and small children—get the seasonal flu shot.

“The elderly do not need to get the H1N1 vaccine. They’re not one of the priority groups,“ Gifford said. “Most of them seem to be immune to it.“

But children from 6 months to 24 years old are a priority for the swine flu shot.  So, as quickly as the vaccine trickles in, it will go out to 600 schools and colleges in our area.

Gifford said the department doesn’t have enough staff to run 600 clinics.

“We’re asking and I’m asking on behalf of the kids of Rhode Island that the health care workers in the state—doctors, nurses, EMTs, pharmacists—who all can give shots, and also help in the clinic, who would like to volunteer to help staff some of those during the day, or in the evenings and weekends, to volunteer,“ Gifford said.

Parents can expect to receive H1N1 vaccine consent forms in the coming weeks.

“Consent forms will go home just like your request for school pictures. The parents will read it. It’s voluntary, just like school picture day,“ Gifford said.

Other high risk groups for swine flu include:

• Pregnant women
• Caregivers of infants younger than 6 months
• Health care workers
• First responders
• Young people with cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy
• Anyone who is immuno-compromised, such as asthmatics and people with heart disease, diabetes and cancer

Health officials also want to get this message out to doctors:  You must register online if you want to receive the H1N1 vaccine in your office. It’s a separate registration from the seasonal vaccine.