Navigating the H1N1
Influenza Virus
By:
Charlene Chirillo, RN, BSN
Finding the word “Pandemic” in
a newspaper headline makes us all a bit anxious. And if you conduct an Internet
search on the H1N1 flu, you will be overwhelmed with close to 22,200,000 results.
How do you even begin to weed through all that without losing your mind? And
how do you know what is reliable and credible in this wonderful world we call
cyberspace? It is literally an “information junkies” paradise.
Well, GSAHEC can help! We have
researched and compiled a list that, depending on who you are, will direct you
to the most updated information. So whether you are a nurse in a public clinic,
a private clinician, or a school nurse, you can use it as your primary
reference for gathering the most up-to-date information on the H1N1 influenza
virus.
And if we could predict just
one question that would be asked the most it would be this one: “Should I get my usual seasonal flu shot
this year?” Answer: Per the CDC, the
seasonal influenza vaccine will not protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza
virus that resulted in the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health
Organization (WHO) in June of this year. Although this year’s seasonal
vaccine is directed against other strains of influenza expected to be
circulating and will not provide protection against the 2009 H1N1 influenza
virus, it is still important to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine as
recommended. No vaccine is 100% effective against preventing disease, but
vaccination is the best protection and it can prevent many illnesses and
possible deaths.
Check out these resources for up-to-date information:
|
Specific Population |
Website: |
|
General Public |
http://doh.state.fl.us/chdDeSoto http://doh.state.fl.us/chdManatee |
|
School Personnel |
Contains a “Back -to –School”
Resource Kit |
|
Healthcare Professional |
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/DEMO/php/FluInfo.htm |