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STATE RECOMMENDS CONTINUED PRIORITIZATION OF H1N1 VACCINE

Adults with Underlying Health Conditions to be Added on November 19th

MADISON - The Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that it is asking public health organizations and private health care providers to spend the next week aggressively targeting a subset of individuals most-at-risk of serious health complications from the H1N1 virus. On Thursday November 19th, DHS will expand the vaccine target group to include those between the ages 19-64 who have underlying medical conditions which put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

"It is critically important during a time of limited vaccine to aggressively target those individuals who are most-at-risk. Recent public vaccination clinics focused on those most-at-risk have been very successful; however, we still have some work to do in order to reach more of these individuals," said State Health Officer Dr. Seth Foldy. "While the vaccine supply has steadily increased during the past two weeks, we still do not have enough vaccine in the state to support large-scale mass vaccination efforts."

For the next week, public and private providers are asked to focus on:

• Pregnant women
• Persons who live with or provide care for infants age 6 months or younger (examples: parents, siblings, daycare providers)
• Health-care and emergency medical services personnel who have direct contact with patients or infectious material
• Children aged 6 months - 4 years
• Children and adolescents aged 5-18 years who have chronic medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

Beginning November 19th, the targeted sub-population will be expanded to include:

• All persons aged 19-64 who have underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk for influenza-related complications.

Public health organizations and private health care providers will have the flexibility to move into the expanded group sooner, if their vaccine supply is adequate to meet demand for those most-at-risk. During the next few weeks, DHS will continue to monitor the vaccine supply and work with local public health and health care systems in determining their success in reaching the target populations. This analysis will help in assessing when an adequate vaccine supply exists that will allow Wisconsin to extend vaccinations to other groups.

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Last Revised:  November 12, 2009