Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
We are providing this update to help inform Congress and congressional staff about the current status of 2009 H1N1 Influenza and related topics. This update will be issued on Fridays unless events dictate otherwise. HHS’ Assistant Secretary for Legislation will also be hosting periodic telebriefings on 2009 H1N1. Questions should be directed to CDC/Washington at 202-245-0600.
Note: Green text indicates new information. Black text indicates background and other information also included in previous updates.
November 6, 2009 (Fall 2009; Issue 6)
In This Email (in Outlook and on some Blackberry devices, you can click on these headings and express to these sections):
- Current 2009 H1N1 Situation Update
- General Seasonal Influenza Updates
- 2009 H1N1 Vaccine Information
- 2009 H1N1 and Asthma
- Emergency Use Authorization for Peramivir
- Presidential Declaration and the Stafford Act
- CDC Guidance on Prevention and Control
- Communication Tools for Members and Constituents
- Media Updates
Current 2009 H1N1 Situation Update
In the U.S. from August 30 – October 31, 2009, 17,838 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated hospitalizations and 672 laboratory-confirmed influenza associated deaths were reported to CDC.
A total of 129 deaths in children associated with 2009 H1N1 virus have been reported to CDC.
Currently, 48 states are reporting widespread influenza activity. See map below for updated view of influenza in the U.S.
More information regarding 2009 H1N1 Influenza activity can be viewed here.
More information about CDC’s 2009 H1N1 influenza surveillance system is available here.
Weekly updates on the global 2009 H1N1 Influenza situation can be found here.
General Seasonal Influenza Updates
- Individuals should be encouraged to seek seasonal flu vaccine.
- There are many millions of doses yet to be distributed this season. As distribution continues, however, some individuals may have to obtain the vaccine from a source other than their preferred provider.
- As of October 30, 92 million doses, or 80 percent of the total projected amount of seasonal influenza vaccine doses have been distributed in the private and public sectors.
- It is estimated that the total number of doses that will be manufactured this year is approximately the same as the number of doses that were actually administered last season. Manufacturers now estimate that a total of 114 million doses will be brought to the U.S. market.
- People can find seasonal vaccine by checking the American Lung Association web site that identifies clinics that have influenza vaccine available: http://www.flucliniclocator.org/
- We are still early in flu season; there is still time for people to get vaccinated to protect themselves from becoming ill.
2009 H1N1 Vaccination InformationÂ
Vaccine Production and Distribution
All states and the District of Columbia have placed orders for vaccine. As of November 6, a total of 35,618,800 doses were available for ordering. Of those available doses, 28,036,300 doses were ordered and 26,248,100 doses had shipped.
As of November 2, 2009 H1N1vaccine supply numbers are being updated online on a daily basis. View updates here.
Since September 30, when the 2009 H1N1 vaccine was first made available to states to order, the number of doses that has been produced, distributed, and administered has grown steadily, and states are executing their plans for providing vaccine to high-priority populations. While modest amounts of vaccine have been made available ahead of schedule, a series of manufacturing delays has caused significant reductions in the manufacturers’ projected vaccine output and the number of doses delivered so far. Most reasons for these delays have now been overcome, and production of the vaccine components is proceeding as expected but on a revised schedule. HHS is working closely with the vaccine manufacturers to get the vaccine supplies flowing to the public as vaccine becomes available. These current delays will not alter the per capita allotment basis for states, nor will it affect the method through which states are able to order and receive their allocated doses. CDC is working closely with states to ensure that vaccine gets to the public as soon as we receive it, and CDC has worked with its distributors to ensure round-the-clock shipping capabilities and 24 hour turn-around time on distribution. CDC continues to offer technical assistance to, and meets regularly with, states and other partners to improve the effectiveness of the vaccination program.
See questions and answers about 2009 H1N1 Influenza vaccine distribution here. See questions and answers about vaccine supply here.
To find out where 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu vaccine is available near you, access the flu.gov vaccine locator here.
Vaccine Recommendations
Vaccine Safety
- Neither the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine nor the 2009-2010 seasonal influenza vaccine have been associated with any unexpected adverse events.
- The CDC and FDA closely monitor the safety of seasonal influenza and other vaccines licensed for use in the United States in cooperation with state and local health departments, healthcare providers, and other partners.
- Clinical trials on 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine began in July and are ongoing. Information from the trials indicates the vaccines are safe, and that one dose of vaccine provides protection to most healthy adults, including pregnant women, and children 10-17 years old. Children younger than 10 years should receive two doses of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine. The trials are also seeking information on immune-compromised individuals.
- CDC and its partners are using several systems to monitor the safety of 2009 H1N1 monovalent influenza vaccine. Two primary systems are the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is jointly operated with FDA, and the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) Project. Â
Read more about 2009 H1N1 Influenza vaccine safety here. Access HHS’ newly released report on the Federal Plans to Monitor Immunization Safety for the Pandemic 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Program here.
Access a new fact sheet on Guillain-Barré syndrome here.
2009 H1N1 and Asthma
Asthma affects 7.9% of the U.S. population and is the cause of nearly a half-million hospitalizations each year. People with asthma are at higher risk for serious complications from flu, including 2009 H1N1 flu, and account for approximately 32% of 2009 H1N1 hospitalizations in the United States. Because of their increased risk for serious 2009 H1N1 complications, people with asthma should:
- Have their asthma well controlled and have an updated asthma action plan;
- Seek treatment promptly when ill with influenza-like illness or an asthma exacerbation;
- Be treated promptly with oseltamivir antiviral if they have suspected 2009 H1N1 infection;
- Get the 2009 H1N1 flu shot and the seasonal flu shot.
People with asthma should not get the nasal spray vaccine for 2009 H1N1 flu or nasal spray seasonal flu.
More information regarding asthma and 2009 H1N1 influenza is available here.
Emergency Use Authorization for Peramivir
- On Friday, October 23, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the investigational antiviral drug peramivir intravenous (IV) in certain patients with confirmed or suspected 2009 H1N1 influenza infection. An EUA may be issued by the FDA to allow either the use of an unapproved medical product or an unapproved use of an approved medical product during certain types of emergencies. The EUA is intended to expand antiviral treatment options for hospitalized patients unable to use currently available FDA-approved agents that are taken orally or inhaled.
More information on the EUA and peramivir is available here. Questions and Answers about peramivir for health care providers are available here.
Additional information about antiviral safety can be accessed here.
Presidential Declaration and the Stafford Act
On October 24, 2009, President Obama signed a proclamation declaring the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic a National Emergency. This proclamation will facilitate the response to the pandemic by enabling – if warranted on a case-by-case basis – the waiver of certain Federal requirements for medical facilities responding to the surge of patients with the 2009 H1N1 virus. Examples of such waivers include allowing hospitals to set up an alternative screening location for patients away from the hospital’s main campus and allowing skilled nursing facilities to increase the number of certified beds.
A Presidential proclamation of a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act and a Presidential declaration of an emergency or major disaster under the Stafford Act are distinct and separate declarations. The President’s proclamation does not trigger a Stafford Act declaration or provide financial or other resources.
In general, when an incident overwhelms or is anticipated to overwhelm State resources, the Governor may request Federal assistance, including assistance under the Stafford Act. The Stafford Act authorizes the President to provide financial and other assistance to State and local governments, certain private nonprofit organizations, and individuals to support response, recovery, and mitigation efforts following Presidential emergency or major disaster declarations.
More information on the Stafford Act and pandemic influenza is available here.
CDC Guidance on Prevention and Control
CDC has issued (or updated) guidance to help individuals, schools, businesses, and others take steps to avoid the flu and deal with its consequences. All guidance can be accessed at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/. Below, we have provided direct links to key guidance that may be of interest.
Guidance for Child care Programs, Schools, Colleges and Universities
Guidance for Institutions of Higher Learning
Guidance for Childcare Facilities
Business and Employer Guidance
Guidance for Business, Employers and Workplaces
Communication Toolkit for the Federal Workforce
Guidance for State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Health Officials
Vaccination Guidance for State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Health Officials
Healthcare Providers and Facilities: Decision Tree for 2009 H1N1 Vaccination
Clinician Guidance
Clinician Guidance Regarding Diagnostic Tests
Guidance for the use of Antiviral Medications
Guidance for Clinicians Regarding Patients with Asthma
2009 H1N1 Flu and Seasonal Flu Information for Rheumatology Health Professionals
Infection Control
Guidance for Individuals Handling 2009 H1N1 Clinical Specimens or Isolates
Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel
Guidance for Patients and Caretakers
Guidance for Patients and Caretakers (and here)
Emergency Personnel Guidance
Implementation Guidance for Managing Calls and Call Centers during a Large-Scale Influenza Outbreak
Guidance for Community Settings
Guidance for Community Settings
Travel and Travel Industry Guidance
Guidance for Travel and Travel Industry: Cruise Ships
Guidance for Travel and Travel Industry: Airlines
Epidemiology and Surveillance
Interim Guidance for Influenza Surveillance: Prioritizing RT-PCR Testing in Laboratories
Guidance for Workers who are Employed at Commercial Swine Farms
Communication Tools for Members and Constituents
CDC recognizes that H1N1 flu is of significant interest and concern to your constituents. With this in mind, we offer cutting edge CDC communication tools you can use to effectively communicate information about 2009 H1N1 flu. These tools include short messages and links that can be posted to Twitter, CDC and Flu.gov Twitter feeds, widgets, e-cards, podcasts, an image library, and more.
All of these resources can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/SocialMedia/Campaigns/H1N1/. If you need technical assistance in using these tools, please contact Justin Cormier (jcormier@cdc.gov) or Andi Lipstein (alipstein@cdc.gov) in the CDC Washington Office.
We also have produced a variety of materials that can be printed at a local (or commercial) printer and distributed. We do not stock these documents, but they can be useful handouts at district events. You can access these resources here.
Media Updates
CDC conducts regular media updates and briefings regarding 2009 H1N1 Influenza. Transcripts of these briefings, as well as audio recordings, are available here.
- Historical Document: November 6, 2009
- Content source: CDC Washington
Content Management: Office of Enterprise Communication - Notice: Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by HHS, CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site.
