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Health professionals with the University of Kansas Health System are discussing the state of COVID-19 in the Kansas City area live Wednesday morning.
LIVE: State of COVID in KC area
13 Chief medical officers and infectious disease doctors will also discuss the impact COVID has had on supply chain problems, staffing shortages and will look ahead to the impact it will have this fall.
We want to hear from you on what resources Kansas City families might benefit from to help us all through the pandemic. If you have five minutes, feel free to fill out this survey to help guide our coverage: KSHB COVID Survey.
Introduction
Novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease. As of 24:00 on May 25, 2020, China reported 129,913 confirmed cases,1 and the total number of confirmed cases outside of China exceeded 275,763,346. COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets and close contact and is highly contagious.13 As they are in close contact with patients, medical personnel are at a high risk of nosocomial infection. An investigation showed that 41% of medical personnel who were infected with COVID-19 were infected as a result of nosocomial infection and the mortality rate was as high as 4.3%.4 According to a survey, a total of 3019 medical staff infected with novel coronavirus in 422 health care facilities providing consultation and treatment services for patients with neocoronavirus, with a high incidence of nosocomial infections. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed to reduce the risk of exposure for medical personnel while treating infected patients and being exposed to contaminated surfaces. PPE plays an important role in protecting medical personnel while treating patients in isolation and reducing the nosocomial infection rate. Previous studies have shown that medical personnel not effectively putting on and removing PPE is a significant risk factor for nosocomial infection.5 The informationmotivationbehavioral skills (IMB) model refers to an intervention that involved providing information about, motivation for, and establishing behavioral skills for a specific behavior and adopting targeted improvement measures to promote the establishment of an effective behavior.6 It is a systematic, scientific, and prospective behavioral change model and has been widely applied in various fields of medical care.7,8 As our hospital is a designated hospital for patients with COVID-19, this model was applied for the management of putting on and removing PPE by medical staff and achieved good results. The details are reported as follows.
A total of 106 medical staff members participating in COVID-19 treatment in our hospital from January 10, 2020, to March 10, 2020, were selected as research subjects using a convenience sampling method. The inclusion criteria were as follows: wearing PPE when offering first-line treatment to patients with COVID-19 and able to communicate effectively. Volunteered to participate in this study and agreed to wear PPE to participate in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 and had good physical condition, voluntarily enter the isolated ward and passed the tightness test of the mask. The exclusion criteria were as follows: unable to continue offering first-line treatment to patients for personal reasons and previous experience in putting on and taking off PPE (ie, PPE application) for SARS, H1N1, Ebola, etc. This study was conducted with approval from the Ethics Committee of The Second Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. This study was conducted in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
A total of 56 medical workers who started offering first-line treatment from January 10, 2020, to February 10, 2020, were selected as the control group. Of these, two were unable to continue offering first-line treatment for personal reasons, so a total of 54 subjects were included in the control group and completed the study. The experimental group (IMB group) consisted of 50 medical workers who started offering first-line treatment from February 11, 2020, to March 10, 2020, and the IMB model was implemented in this group for the management of putting on and removing PPE. There were no statistical differences in age, gender, educational background, professional title, working years, and other social demographic data between the two groups.
In terms of PPE application, the control group was managed using conventional methods. The hospital set up PPE management, and eight medical staff, nursing staff, and infection control specialists with experience in emergent infectious diseases were selected to undertake the PPE management. Team members were responsible for formulating the PPE procedures, giving theoretical lectures, demonstrating protective skills, and providing operational guidance to the control group upon entering first-line work. The PPE knowledge assessment, self-efficacy questionnaire, and PPE qualification survey were carried out one by one.
An IMB PPE management team was set up. The PPE management team for the experimental group consisted of the same members of the PPE management team for the control group. To ensure the quality of the intervention, the IMB group leader conducted unified training, the PPE knowledge assessment, the self-efficacy questionnaire, and the PPE qualification survey for the IMB group.
Knowledge of COVID-19: Members of the IMB management group organized for the medical staff studied the latest version of the COVID-19 prevention and control protocols, the diagnostic and treatment protocols, and other relevant guidelines issued by the country to enable the medical staff to have a clear understanding of COVID-19; related theoretical knowledge, such as etiology; epidemiological characteristics; clinical classification; manifestations; diagnostic criteria; treatment, prevention; and nursing points and informed them of the necessity of standardizing the method of PPE application. Manual of PPE application: Based on the Guidelines on the scope of use of common medical PPE in the prevention and control of pneumonia in COVID-19 (trial),9 Technical guidelines for COVID-19 prevention and control in healthcare settings (first edition),10 How to put on and remove PPE (issued by the World Health Organization), and Reference of the previous experience in our hospital in fighting with COVID-19, the IMB management team formulated the procedure manual for PPE application. The manual included a schematic diagram of humans putting on and removing PPE; this was easy to understand and memorize during training. Post-training: Since there are many steps in the process of putting on and removing PPE, a designated PPE area was created in the ward to facilitate the process, and an appropriately sized poster of the schematic diagram was posted. The necessary items were placed in the designated area in the correct sequence, as depicted in the poster. PPE video: According to the steps outlined in the procedure manual, the IMB management team made a video of how to put on and remove PPE in real life and posted it on the WeChat platform using the video feedback method so that the medical staff in the IMB group could watch it several times to fully learn the process.
COVID-19 is highly contagious, the outbreak is spreading fast, and to date, there is no specific treatment or vaccine. Medical staff involved in first-line treatment may have anxiety and fear due to the risk of infection or may be too relaxed due to a lack of understanding of the disease. Low PPE self-efficacy among medical staff could lead to improper protection. Therefore, specific motivational interviews were used at various times for the medical staff participating in first-line work to improve PPE self-efficacy. The specific methods were as follows: Unintentional stage: The IMB management group conducted face-to-face interviews with the IMB group to understand their psychological state and needs and encouraged them to express their thoughts and concerns about first-line work and the process of PPE application. The interviewers paid close attention during the interviews to show respect, ensure that they fully understood the subjects, and increase the IMB groups level of trust in the management team members. Intentional stage: Through conversation, the importance and necessity of correct PPE application were emphasized to the IMB group. The IMB group, in turn, shared their level of confidence in the process of PPE application with the management team. By sharing their successful experiences in participating in major public health events, the management team demonstrated the importance of the proper application of PPE in effectively avoiding COVID-19 infection, strengthened the awareness of PPE in the IMB group, and timeously corrected the negative feelings and psychological difficulties of the IMB group in the face of the epidemic. Preparation stage: The understanding of COVID-19 and the importance of proper PPE application were continuously strengthened in the IMB group. Various measures were used to provide information, and a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills were imparted. Various methods were adopted to guide PPE application. According to the PPE application situation of the IMB group, the training and management scheme for PPE application was formulated. Change stage: The training and management program for PPE application was reviewed with the subjects in the IMB group, and timely adjustments and corrections to the program were made by evaluating and receiving feedback to ensure the feasibility of the program implementation. Maintenance stage: The management group regularly communicated with the IMB group to establish a belief in the importance of correct PPE application and enhance their confidence in PPE for preventing nosocomial infection. According to their knowledge and PPE application behaviors, the management team provided the IMB team with guidance to help them correctly understand the significance of PPE application for the prevention and control of nosocomial infection. The self-management awareness and ability were improved, and the PPE application behaviors were supervised correctly. Subjects in the IMB group were encouraged to maintain positive protective attitudes and behaviors, and colleagues were fully encouraged to supervise and support them to ensure that subjects in the IMB group continued to use their PPE correctly.
In the IMB-based PPE application management, informational and motivational interventions provided a basis for behavioral intervention. Based on the knowledge of and motivation for PPE application, the behavioral intervention would become the most important step for qualified PPE application. The behavioral interventions conducted in this study were as follows: Adequate supplies: If the PPE is too small, it will lead to exposed skin, and if it is too large, it will be loose. In both instances, the PPE application will be unsatisfactory. Therefore, for the purposes of this study, the hospital deployed materials in a unified manner to ensure sufficient PPE for staff in high-risk departments, such as isolation wards, to avoid unsatisfactory PPE application resulting from a lack of properly sized PPE. Double duty and supervision: The double-duty system was implemented, requiring staff on duty to leave and incoming staff to enter at the same time, giving them an opportunity to supervise each other in the correct application of PPE. Strengthen supervision: An infection supervisor post was created. The infection supervisor was posted at the gate of each isolation ward 24 hours a day to conduct a PPE qualification inspection on all staff entering the isolation ward. A surveillance video was set up in the PPE application area, and supervision was conducted via video monitoring. The supervisor then offered timely advice via the intercom if they observed non-standard behavior, and they urged the staff member to improve in their PPE application efforts. Prompt correction: Daily inspections were carried out by the members of the nosocomial infection control team who analyzed and discussed problems relating to PPE application through onsite inspection and video surveillance playback. Measures for correction were put forward to standardize the behavior of the medical staff.
The theoretical knowledge paper on COVID-19 prevention and control and PPE application was issued by the IMB management team, with a total score of 100 points. On February 10 and March 10, the control group and the IMB group were tested, and their knowledge of COVID-19 and PPE application were compared.
In the present study, the Chinese version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) was used to measure the participants belief in the importance of PPE application. The GSES was developed by Schwarzer et al and translated and revised by Wang Caikang et al in 2001. The GSES has good reliability, with an internal consistency coefficient Cronbachs A = 0.87, a retest reliability r = 0.83, and split-half reliability r = 0.82, all of which show high reliability and validity.1113 This scale has 10 items rated on a four-point Likert scale. The higher the total score, the higher the belief of the subject in the importance of PPE application. On February 10 and March 10, the PPE self-efficacy was measured and compared between the control group and the IMB group.
Direct observation methods were adopted by the IMB management team to observe and record the medical staff putting on and removing the PPE. The qualification ratio of PPE application is the number of people qualified in PPE application divided by the total number of people. Those qualified in the two subprocesses of PPE application were considered to be qualified. A staff members qualification in PPE application was judged according to the standard PPE application process issued by the hospital.
The SPSS 20.0 statistical software was used for analysis. Measurement data were expressed as the mean standard deviation (). The t-test was used for comparison between the groups. The chi-squared test was used for the comparison of the countable data, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
The PPE knowledge scores of the medical staff in the IMB group were significantly better than in the control group (P < 0.05; see Table 1).
The PPE self-efficacy scores of the medical staff in the IMB group were significantly better than in the control group (P < 0.05; see Table 2).
Table 2 Comparison of the PPE Self-Efficacy Between the Two Groups (2, P value)
The qualification rate for PPE application in the IMB group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05; see Table 3).
Table 3 Comparison of the Qualification Rate of Putting on and Removing PPE Between the Two Groups
This study implemented a series of PPE wear and tear management measures from the aspects of information, motivation, behavior skills and so on at the early stage of the epidemic of COVID-19 based on the IMB model. We found that the process was scientific and reasonable. The results showed that the implementation of the IMB model improved the qualified rate of PPE wear and tear of medical personnel, and provided valuable practical experience for the management of PPE wear and tear during the COVID-19.
The proper preparation of the medical staff in PPE application is critical in COVID-19 care.5 A full set of PPE includes protective clothing, gloves (three layers), a hat, an eye mask, an N95 mask, shoe covers, and a face screen. In addition, according to relevant guidelines, PPE should be properly worn following the sequence in accordance with the regional protective requirements. According to the literature, the PPE application process includes more than a dozen steps, all of which are complex and time consuming.14,15 COVID-19 is highly contagious, and the epidemic is developing rapidly; therefore, inadequate PPE protection may expose the skin and mucous membranes of medical staff, increasing the risk of nosocomial infection.16 However, excessive protection may lead to the waste of protective materials and environmental cross infection.17 The IMB model involves multiple links to behavioral change, such as PPE information, motivation, and behavioral skills, and it has been widely applied.8,18,19 Information is a prerequisite for healthy behavior. The present study provided practical PPE knowledge, guidance, information supplementation, and correction for medical staff. In the five-stage motivational interview used in the study, the personal motivation and social motivation of the medical staff were deeply understood. This helped the medical staff improve their belief in the importance of correct PPE application and establish good PPE application attitudes. In terms of behavioral skills, there are many things that could interfere with the establishment of proper PPE application, such as material supply, double duty, simultaneous supervision of entering and leaving, continuous supervision, video supervision, and nosocomial infection inspection. A series of scientific and reasonable PPE application management interventions based on the IMB model conformed to the rules of behavior establishment and improved the qualification rate for PPE application by supplying information, increasing motivation, and impacting the behavioral skills related to PPE application. After the intervention, the knowledge related to PPE application, the self-efficacy, and the qualification rate increased in the IMB group. This was of great significance in preventing, reducing the incidence of, and controlling nosocomial infections.
The present study had some limitations. Due to limited time and resources, only 104 subjects were included in the study, which cannot represent the whole population. In addition, the subjects were chosen from personnel in various echelons of the hospital, which could cause the results to be susceptible to various factors that are unrelated to what is being tested. Subsequent studies could improve on the research methodology and expand the sample size to ensure that the research results are more informative.
In the present study, it showed that the application of the IMB model could improve the relevant knowledge relating to PPE application, strengthen the belief in the importance of and motivation for correct PPE application, improve the qualification rate for PPE application, and provide a theoretical and practical basis for reducing the occurrence of nosocomial infection.
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
1. Health and Health Commission of the Peoples Republic of China. Update on the COVID-19 outbreak as of 24:00 on May 25 [EB/OL]. Available from: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/yqtb/202005/02e547cdbb654065bf523b61e03f3ddb.shtml. Chinese. Accessed August 8, 2022.
2. Medical Affairs and Medical Board. Notice on the issuance of the treatment protocol for COVID-19 (trial version 7) [EB/OL]. Available from: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/yzygj/s7653p/202003/46c9294a7dfe4cef80dc7f5912eb1989.shtml. Chinese. Accessed March 5, 2020.
3. Health and Health Commission of the Peoples Republic of China. Diagnosis and treatment protocol for COVID-19 (Trial Version 7) Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment. Chin Med J. 2020. doi:10.4103/2311-8571.281609
4. Wang D, Hu B, Hu C, et al. Clinical characteristics of 138 hospitalized patients with 2019 novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia in Wuhan, China. JAMA. 2020;323(11):10611069. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.1585
5. Mitchell R, Roth V, Gravel D, et al.; Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program. Are health care workers protected? An observational study of selection and removal of personal protective equipment in Canadian acute care hospitals. Am J Infect Control. 2013;41(3):240244. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2012.04.332
6. Jeon E, Park HA. Development of the IMB model and an evidence-based diabetes self-management mobile application. Healthc Inform Res. 2018;24(2):125138. doi:10.4258/hir.2018.24.2.125
7. Peng Z, Chen H, Wei W, et al. The information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people living with HIV in Shanghai. AIDS Care. 2021;16. doi:10.1080/09540121.2021.2019667
8. Shrestha R, Altice FL, Huedo-Medina TB, Karki P, Copenhaver M. Willingness to Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): an empirical test of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model among high-risk drug users in treatment. AIDS Behav. 2017;21(5):12991308. doi:10.1007/s10461-016-1650-0
9. Medical Affairs and Medical Board. The General Office of the National Health and Wellness Commission on the issuance of guidelines on the scope of use of common medical protective equipment in the prevention and control of pneumonia due to novel coronavirus infection (for trial implementation). Available from: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/yzygj/s7659/202001/e71c5de925a64eafbe1ce790debab5c6.shtml. Chinese. Accessed January 27, 2020.
10. General Office of National Health and Health Commission. Notice on the issuance of technical guidelines for the prevention and control of novel coronavirus infections in medical institutions (first edition). Available from: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/yzygj/s7659/202001/b91fdab7c304431eb082d67847d27e14.shtml. Chinese. Accessed January 23, 2020.
11. Wang YF, Du M, Su R. Analysis of interventionalclinical research protocols related to coronavirus disease 2019 and future expectations. World J Tradit Chin Med. 2020;6:139144. doi:10.4103/wjtcm.wjtcm_11_20
12. Wang CK, Hu ZF, Liu Y. A study of the reliability and validity of the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Appl Psychol. 2001;2001(01):3740. Chinese.
13. Jain S, Clezy K, McLaws ML. Modified glove use for contact precautions: health care workers perceptions and acceptance. Am J Infect Control. 2019;47(8):938944. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2019.01.009
14. Fu L, Chang YQ, Chen LS, et al. Key elements of donning and doffing personal protective equipment in prevention and treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia. PLA J Nurs. 2020;2020(2):14. Chinese.
15. Visnovsky LD, Zhang Y, Leecaster MK, et al. Effectiveness of a multisite personal protective equipment (PPE)-free zone intervention in acute care. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2019;40(7):761766. doi:10.1017/ice.2019.111
16. Jia HX, Li LY. Introduction to the CDC isolation prevention guidelines 2007 - preventing the spread of infectious agents in healthcare facilities. China Nurs Manage. 2009;9(11):710. Chinese.
17. Patrick A, Murphy P, Pryor R, et al. Nurse survey, knowledge gaps and the creation of an environmental hygiene protocol for patient transport and removing linen from patient rooms. Am J Infect Control. 2020;48(9):11131115. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2019.12.012
18. Jones RM, Bleasdale SC, Maita D, Brosseau LM; CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. A systematic risk-based strategy to select personal protective equipment for infectious diseases. Am J Infect Control. 2020;48(1):4651. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2019.06.023
19. Shell DF, Newman IM, Perry CM, Folsom AR. Changing intentions to use smokeless tobacco: an application of the IMB model. Am J Health Behav. 2011;35(5):568580. doi:10.5993/ajhb.35.5.6
Live Performance Is Back. But Audiences Have Been Slow to Return. The New York Times
Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines
Yes, influenza and COVID-19 are caused by different viruses and so need different vaccines.
It is recommended to get the influenza vaccine in readiness for the influenza season. This will minimise the possibility of contracting both influenza and COVID-19 infection at the same time and provide greater protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Influenza and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Therefore, they need different vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccine does not protect against influenza, so you should still have an influenza vaccine.
It is best to wait until you have fully recovered from COVID-19 before getting the influenza vaccine.
For further information, contact your immunisation provider.
Yes, you can now get your influenza vaccination at the same time as your COVID-19 vaccination (co-administered on the same day) as advised by the Australian Technical Advisory Group (ATAGI).
Studies show that co-administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines is safe and producesa good immune response.
Read more detailed guidance about COVID-19 vaccines and influenza vaccination (external site).
Speak with your immunisation provider to check what is right for you.
Read more about the COVID-19 vaccine.
When is the best time to get the influenza vaccine?
For best protection against influenza, people are strongly advised to get the influenza vaccine every year. The influenza virus is constantly changing and the vaccine changes accordingly.
The optimal time to get vaccinated is usually Autumn as this provides protection in time for the peak influenza season (usually winter). However, it is never too late to get vaccinated as influenza can circulate in the community all year round.
After vaccination it can take up to 2 weeks to develop immunity and protect you from influenza.
Who can receive a free influenza vaccine?
Everyone over 6 months of age is encouraged to get vaccinated against influenza.
Some groups of people are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza and are eligible to receive a free influenza vaccine:
Note: The vaccine is free for the groups above, however patients may be charged a consultation fee. Check costs when making an appointment.
Influenza vaccination is also recommended for people who:
The influenza vaccine is highly recommended for at-risk groups.
Influenza vaccination may be required for certain occupations and industries (external site).
Is there anyone who shouldn't get the vaccine?
The only reason not to have an influenza vaccine is following a severe (anaphylactic) reaction to a previous dose of influenza vaccine, or to any component of any vaccine. Allergic reactions to an influenza vaccine are rare. Speak with your immunisation provider for advice.
If you are unwell, talk to your immunisation provider about whether to reschedule your vaccination.
Also tell your immunisation provider if you have ever had Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS, a severe illness causing muscle weakness). They will help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you. People with a history of GBS have an increased likelihood in general of developing GBS again, and the chance of them coincidentally developing the syndrome following influenza vaccination may be higher than in persons with no history of GBS. Diagnosis of GBS is complex and must be made by a specialist.
Is the influenza vaccine safe?
Yes. All vaccines available in Australia pass strict safety testing before being approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (external site). AusVaxSafety is a national program to monitor the type and rate of reactions to each year's new influenza vaccine. Learn more at NCIRS (external site).
Learn more about vaccination safety.
You cannot get influenza from having an influenza vaccine as it does not contain live or killed virus.
It is possible to be exposed to influenza viruses shortly before getting vaccinated or during the two week period after vaccination that it takes the body to develop immune protection. This exposure may result in you becoming ill with influenza before protection from the vaccine takes effect.
People may also mistake symptoms of other respiratory viruses for influenza symptoms. The influenza vaccine only protects against influenza disease, not other illnesses.
Where can I get vaccinated?
What can I do if I have an adverse reaction after influenza vaccination?
Some people experience common reactions such as pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, low grade temperature, muscle aches and/or drowsiness. Any medicine, including the influenza vaccine, can have potentially serious side effects, such as severe allergic reaction. However, the risk of this is extremely small.
Learn more about the possible side effects of immunisation.
Seek medical advice if symptoms continue or get worse.
Western Australian Vaccine Safety Surveillance System
The Western Australian Vaccine Safety Surveillance System (WAVSS) is the central reporting service in WA for any significant adverse events following immunisation.
If you have experienced an adverse reaction to a vaccine:
Why do I need to get the influenza vaccination every year?
The influenza virus is constantly changing, and the vaccine changes every year to ensure protection against the most recent and common circulating strains.
The formulation of influenza vaccines used in Australia is determined each year by the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee based on information and recommendations from the World Health Organisation.
There hasnt been much influenza in WA, do I need to get vaccinated?
It is important to remain vigilant with influenza. After two years of border closures and public health measures from the COVID-19 pandemic, WA is facing a resurgence of influenza circulating in the community.
Both viruses circulating at the same time could have severe consequences for vulnerable people and place increased pressure on health systems at a time of year when hospitals are often at their busiest.
Vaccination is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from serious disease caused by influenza. By getting vaccinated against influenza, you can also help protect other people, especially people who are too sick or too young to be vaccinated.
The more people who are vaccinated in your community, the less likely the disease will spread.
I'm healthy and rarely get sick. Why do I need the influenza vaccine?
Even healthy people can get very sick from influenza.
While we have taken great care in practicing social and public health measures over the last 2 years, we need to continue protecting those who are at serious risk of complications if they get influenza such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions. If they get influenza, complications may include high fever, pneumonia, worsening of other illnesses and in some cases death.
By getting vaccinated each year, you help to protect these vulnerable people from getting sick with influenza, as well as those who are unable to be vaccinated themselves (e.g. children under 6 months are too young to get vaccinated against influenza).
Last reviewed: 01-08-2022
Public Health
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.
DALTON, Georgia (WDEF) The North Georgia Health District will offer drive-thru flu shot clinics again this fall.
They are for people 18 or older.
Here are the dates and locations in our area:
Whitfield:Tuesday, September 20th, 9 A.M. 2 P.M., Whitfield County Health Department, 800 Professional Boulevard, Dalton, GA 30720. Call (706) 279-9600 for more details.
Murray:Tuesday, September 27th, 9 A.M. 3 P.M., First Baptist Church, 121 West Market Street, Chatsworth, GA 30705. Call (706) 695-4585 for more details.
Fannin:Tuesday, October 11th, 9 A.M. 5 P.M., The Farmers Market, 811 Summit Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513. Call (706) 632-3023 for more details.
The vaccine is free for anyone covered byMedicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, United Healthcare, and others.
If you pay out-of-pocket, the cost is $25 for the regular flu vaccine and $65 for the high-dose vaccine (for people over 65).
Now, as COVID-19 and the especially contagious variants of the virus continue spreading in our communities, it is more important than ever to protect against the flu, reducing the dangerous risk of having both illnesses at the same time.
By Express News Service
HYDERABAD: In the wake of a spike in H1N1 swine flu cases in the last few days, medical experts are advising people to take a dose of the seasonal influenza vaccine.Referring to recent instances of patients getting Covid-19 or dengue along with swine flu, doctors are stressing the need to get flu shots.
Speaking to Express, Dr VV Ramanaprasad, a consultant pulmonologist at KIMS Hospital, said: "Some patients are developing high fever and not responding to the general medicines. If tested, their X-ray or CT scan shows a typical viral shadow in their lungs."
The H1N1 swab tests of approximately 30 per cent of such patients are returning positive.As the patients are reporting two or more diseases together, the doctors have become more careful about diagnosis, not labelling any infection as Covid-19.
An endemic swine flu disease is observed every year during monsoon season. However, there was a drop in cases in the last two to three years.We have been asking patients to take seasonal influenza vaccine each year to avoid swine flu infection. We are recommending the same this year too, said Dr Surender Reddy, a pulmonologist at ESIC hospital.
Meanwhile, Dr Ramanaprasad suggested people over 50 years of age with comorbidities or chronic lung infections to take adult vaccination.These vaccines are available free of cost at almost all government hospitals.
The numbers as at 13 August 2022
It is not too late to get your flu jab. You can catch the flu all year round. Getting the flu vaccine helps reduce your risk of getting really sick or having to go to hospital.
Funded eligibility for the flu vaccine has recently been extended. Flu vaccines are free for those people most likely to get very sick people who are over 65 years of age; Mori and Pacific people over 55 years of age; pregnant people; children aged 3-12 years old, and those with underlying and other health conditions.
To keep your child and whnau healthy this winter, its important they have a flu vaccination, and are also up to date with their other vaccinations, including COVID-19 andMMR.Tamariki aged under 9 may require two doses of the flu vaccination, 4 weeks apart, if they have not had it before.
We encourage everyoneto get afluvaccination if they are not yet immunised.
We also remind peopleto stay home if they are unwell, regardless of their COVID-19 test result. Staying home when unwell is one of the most important public health measures to prevent transmission of all respiratory illnesses.
Data may vary from week to week as flu records are updated.
As of today (22 August), the booking portal (nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines) will be available to frontline health and social care workers to book appointments for their COVID-19 and flu vaccines.
Dr Tim Allison, Director of Public Health for NHS Highland, said: We are vaccinating some health and social care workers against COVID-19 to protect the most vulnerable patients. Those who dont have face to face contact with vulnerable patients do not need a COVID-19 vaccine at this time.
Its vital that you take up the offer of vaccination it protects you and those you support against serious COVID-19 infection.
Members of the public aged over 65 will be contacted directly by letter with a scheduled appointment for their COVID-19 and flu vaccination.
Dr Allison said: We anticipate that letters for the over 65s will be with you shortly and the first clinics will take place mid-September.
If youre eligible for both the COVID-19 and flu vaccine this winter, they will be given at the same time where possible. Getting both together is safe and will deliver maximum protection over the winter months.
If you are unable to attend your vaccination appointment please cancel and reschedule. This will allow us to offer the appointment to someone else.
More information on winter vaccines can be found here.
Covid vaccines are likely to become like influenza jabs, that are tweaked every year and offered to vulnerable people every autumn, according to a leading vaccine developer.
Professor Robin Shattock of Imperial College London says there are two approaches to next generation vaccines; the annual flu jab approach and the Holy Grail of the one-vaccine-fits-all-variants approach.
In the same way that the influenza vaccine is updated every year and given to the vulnerable population, an annual vaccine could be given for Covid as well, said Professor Shattock, a pioneer of the same RNA vaccine technology that is used by the Moderna and Pfizer jabs.
It would be tweaked each year just like the flu jab I think thats the most likely scenario in the medium term, he says.
This option is pretty effective, he argues. Even better, however, is the idea of a universal Covid jab although if the quest for a university flu vaccine is anything to go by, we shouldnt hold our breath.
The thing that people are trying to go after is to get a vaccine that will cover all variants. This gets people very excited and obviously is something that people should go for.
But he added: They have been trying to do the same thing for influenza for the past 20 years, so its not to say that its impossible but its also unlikely to be developed in the short term.
One can always have an exciting breakthrough that will change everything but I think in the next few years its going to more likely be updating the vaccine, rather than that weve suddenly discovered a universal coronavirus vaccine.
However things pan out in the coming years, it is likely that the Covid jab, like the flu vaccine that will be administered at the same time, will essentially is used to reduce hospital admissions, not to control transmission.
That is because, given the expense and resources needed to run a vaccination campaign, the main aim is not so much to eliminate all infections but to reduce the risk of serious illness when infection strikes.
Moreover, total elimination of infections isnt feasible because Covid jabs will only prevent a minority of infections but it will prevent the vast majority of severe cases.
With this in mind, Professor Shattock argues that, were the autumn booster campaign to be broadened out to the whole population, it would be less important for any additional groups to have the jab although clearly any reduction in infections is a good thing.
But its likely that any immunity built up from prior infection and vaccination will protect them against severe illness for some time to come, experts said.
