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AAP
Chapter Outreach to State Health Departments Needed on Novel H1N1
Influenza Vaccination
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As the fall influenza season
approaches, the AAP is working with CDC and other national organizations
to prepare for the control of the novel H1N1 virus. At this time, there
are many unresolved issues related to the production, distribution, and
administration of vaccine to combat novel H1N1 influenza. Attached
is a document from the CDC's Clinician Outreach and Communication
Activity that describes preparations that are underway for the novel
H1N1 influenza vaccination program. Please feel free to include this in
your newsletters, Web sites, and other chapter communications.
From this document and other
conversations with the CDC, it has been confirmed that vaccine will be
purchased and distributed by the federal government through state health
departments. It is strongly
recommended that chapters begin working with their state
health departments to provide guidance and input to their state
vaccine distribution plans during this formative stage. Vaccine delivery may include private pediatric offices, but may also involve school clinics, child care facilities, pharmacies,
and other non-traditional settings. The time is
now for AAP chapters to reach out to their state
health departments to ensure that
state and local health officials will promote record keeping and notification
of pediatric offices should alternative sites be used, and will work to inform and prepare
pediatric practices for novel H1N1 vaccine implementation in the office
setting.
Novel H1N1 influenza presents a
unique set of circumstances for the immunization program as we have come
to know it. The optimal source of
routine childhood immunization continues to be within the medical
home setting under the supervision of a child's pediatrician. This message should be reinforced
with state health departments as they begin to develop strategies
for novel H1N1 influenza vaccination in the coming weeks.
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The Division of State Government Affairs sends this
update to the Academy's Executive Committee, Board of Directors, District
Vice-Chairs, Chapter Presidents, Chapter Vice Presidents, Chapter
Legislative Contacts, Committee on State Government Affairs, Committee on
Federal Government Affairs, Chapter Executive Directors, and other
interested AAP members and staff.
For additional state legislative information, strategy suggestions,
in-depth resources on issues of pediatric interest, and past editions of
this update, log onto the AAP
Member Center
and see the State Government Affairs area at http://www.aap.org/moc/stgovaffairs.
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