High dose influenza vaccine for people 65 and older is still available, with more information in this weekly CDC Mortality and Morbidity Report.  Sanofi Pasteur, the manufacturer of the vaccine sold under the name Fluzone High Dose™, recently sent a letter to health care professionals that offers more information about the vaccine ( letter is [...]

Sanofi Pasteur recently received licensure of Fluzone® High-Dose (Influenza Virus Vaccine), which the vaccine maker says is designed to generate a more robust immune response to influenza in people 65 years of age and older. Data show people 65 years of age and older are more likely to die or be hospitalized from influenza and [...]

State public health officials this week called for public and private providers to continue to offer H1N1 vaccinations even though H1N1 activity has been declining since peaking in October. State Health Director Jeffrey Engel, MD, said the state had received more than 3.5 million doses of vaccine, and all doses had been shipped to approved [...]

State Health Director Jeffrey Engel, MD, said he has joined health directors across the country  in supporting the CDC’s initiative to get more H1N1 vaccine out to the public. Read more in this news release from NCDHHS.
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The NC Division of Public Health announced Tuesday that it was contacting 132 health care providers who received H1N1 pediatric vaccine from four lots that were voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur. The state received 17,900 doses from the approximately 800,000 doses impacted by the recall. “There are no safety concerns with these lots [...]

The NC Division of Public Health announced Tuesday the expansion of the H1N1 vaccination effort.  State Public Health Director Jeffrey Engel, MD, advised health care providers, retail pharmacies and local health departments during a statewide videoconference that the H1N1 vaccine be made available to everyone.  Prior to the announcement, the vaccine had been limited to designated [...]

CMS has made available a mini-poster designed to inform seniors and vulnerable populations that Medicare and Medicaid cover both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines. You can download the poster here.  Physicians can refer Medicare, Medicaid and other patients to more information about seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines at http://www.flu.gov/. Information for providers who want [...]

State Epidemiologist Megan Davies, MD, has issued a memo to all NC health care providers about the use of oseltamivir for treatment of H1N1 influenza virus infections.  The memo was prompted by a cluster of infections involving oseltamivir-resistant H1N1 influenza among patients on a single hospital ward in North Carolina.  The cases are not related [...]

More doses of H1N1 vaccine were expected to arrive on Thursday, according to state public health officials who participated in a statewide H1N1 briefing on Tuesday.  About 115, 000 doses arrived last week, with more shipments expected each week through November and December. To date, about 750,000 doses have been administered across the state.
H1N1 Information [...]

State Epidemiologist Megan Davies, MD, issued a one-page guidance on Tuesday for physicians, Severe Influenza in Pregnancy: Consultation and Reporting (click the title to read the guidance).  The guidance provides information for clinical consultation and resources, along with guidance on monitoring and reporting severe influenza infections in pregnant and postpartum women.
Dr. Davies also distributed a message [...]

State health officials reported this week that 441,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine have been administered in North Carolina over the past four weeks. State Health Director Jeffrey Engel, MD, announced during a statewide H1N1 briefing on Tuesday that additional vaccine is expected to arrive in the state next week and will be distributed to local [...]

State-operated hospitals, residential schools, developmental disability centers, neuro-medical treatment centers and alcohol and drug treatment centers have implemented steps to limit the spread of the H1N1 influenza virus. Effective today, all state facilities will actively screen all staff and visitors to identify people exhibiting signs of respiratory infections.

State public health officials are awaiting more shipments of H1N1 flu vaccine as initial supplies have been depleted at clinics across the state. Supplies of the vaccine are being shipped to North Carolina and other states from the federal stockpile and are expected to arrive next week.

North Carolina is changing the way it reports flu deaths and hospitalizations, in response to a new nationwide directive from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Starting this week, the state is reporting hospitalizations and deaths from all influenza-like illnesses, including both H1N1 and seasonal influenza. The state will no longer be reporting separately [...]

The NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is asking physicians and other public health partners to comment on a proposed temporary rule change for Rule 10A NCAC 41A .0101. The proposed rule change will keep influenza deaths in adults reportable when the Temporary Order expires, 90 days after October 1, 2009.