WINTER WEATHER REMINDER

In the event of wintry conditions (freezing rain, ice or snow) or a winter storm, Lamprey Health Care may be closed or experiencing a delayed opening due to unsafe driving conditions.

All patients are reminded to call their Lamprey Health Care Center to verify they are open/not delayed BEFORE driving to their appointment.

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Lamprey Health Care has both H1N1 & Seasonal Flu Vaccines available for patients - for additional information or to schedule an appointment to receive your flu shot, please call your Center at the number below.

Newmarket Center – 603.659.3106

Raymond Center – 603.895.3351

Nashua Center – 603.883.1626

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UPCOMING EVENTS

SENIOR FIT – Newmarket Center

The SENIOR FIT Program is a strength training program that includes stretches, balance and flexibility exercises for older adults. All exercises are done while seated in a chair or standing with the use of a chair or wall for support.

January 12 – April 1, 2010 Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00am – 10:00am

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BASIC YOGA – Raymond Center

The BASIC YOGA Session offers basic yoga instruction with adaptations for seniors, pregnant women, sore joints and other situations.

January 13 – February 17, 2010 Wednesdays, 6:00pm – 7:00pm

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What is 2009 H1N1 (swine flu)?

2009 H1N1 (sometimes called “swine flu”) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway.

Why is 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?

This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus.

Is 2009 H1N1 virus contagious?

The 2009 H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human.

How does 2009 H1N1 virus spread?

Spread of 2009 H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people?

The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. Severe illnesses and deaths have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

How severe is illness associated with 2009 H1N1 flu virus?

Illness with 2009 H1N1 virus has ranged from mild to severe. While most people who have been sick have recovered without needing medical treatment, hospitalizations and deaths from infection with this virus have occurred.

In seasonal flu, certain people are at “high risk” of serious complications. This includes people 65 years and older, children younger than five years old, pregnant women, and people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions. About 70 percent of people who have been hospitalized with this 2009 H1N1 virus have had one or more medical conditions previously recognized as placing people at “high risk” of serious seasonal flu-related complications. This includes pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

Young children are also at high risk of serious complications from 2009 H1N1, just as they are from seasonal flu. And while people 65 and older are the least likely to be infected with 2009 H1N1 flu, if they get sick, they are also at “high risk” of developing serious complications from their illness.

Will the seasonal flu vaccine also protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu?

The seasonal flu vaccine is not expected to protect against the 2009 H1N1 flu.

Can the seasonal vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine be given at the same time?

Inactivated 2009 H1N1 vaccine can be administered at the same visit as any other vaccine, including pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Live 2009 H1N1 vaccine can be administered at the same visit as any other live or inactivated vaccine EXCEPT seasonal live attenuated influenza vaccine.

Should I get vaccinated against 2009 H1N1 if I have had flu-like illness since the Spring of 2009?

The symptoms of influenza (flu-like illnesses) are similar to those caused by many other viruses. Even when influenza viruses are causing large numbers of people to get sick, other viruses are also causing illnesses. Specific testing, called “RT-PCR test,” is needed in order to tell if an illness is caused by a specific influenza strain or by some other virus. This test is different from rapid flu tests that doctors can do in their offices. Since most people with flu-like illnesses will not be tested with RT-PCR this season, the majority will not know whether they have been infected with 2009 H1N1 flu or a different virus.

Therefore, if you were ill but do not know if you had 2009 H1N1 infection, you should get vaccinated, if your doctor recommends it. So, most people recommended for 2009 H1N1 vaccination should be vaccinated with the 2009 H1N1 vaccine regardless of whether they had a flu-like illness earlier in the year. If you have had 2009 H1N1 flu, as confirmed by an RT-PCR test, you should have some immunity against 2009 H1N1 flu and can choose not to get the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. However, vaccination of a person with some existing immunity to the 2009 H1N1 virus will not be harmful.

Will this vaccine be made differently than the seasonal influenza vaccine?

No. This vaccine will be made using the same processes and facilities that are used to make the currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines.

Will two doses of vaccine be required?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of one dose of 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine for persons 10 years of age and older. This is slightly different from CDC’s recommendations for seasonal influenza vaccination which states that children younger than 9 who are being vaccinated against influenza for the first time need to receive two doses. Infants younger than 6 months of age are too young to get the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines.

What will be the recommended interval between the first and second dose for children 9 years of age and under?

CDC recommends that the two doses of 2009 H1N1 vaccine be separated by 4 weeks. However, if the second dose is separated from the first dose by at least 21 days, the second dose can be considered valid.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There are a number of daily actions you can take to help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people

Avoid sharing eating utensils.

If you get sick with influenza, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services 129 Pleasant Street ~ Concord, NH 03301 ~ 800-852-3345 ~ www.dhhs.nh.gov

For up-to-date information on H1N1 Influenza, visit: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.

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Continuous Improvement Notice

The Joint Commission evaluates an organizations compliance with nationally established Joint Commission standards. These standards deal with organizational quality of care issues and the safety of the environment in which care is provided. TJC determines whether, and the conditions under which, accreditation should be awarded to Lamprey Health Care. If an individual has any concerns about patient care and safety in the organization, he or she is encouraged to contact the organizations management. If the concerns in question cannot be resolved at this level, the individual may request a public information interview with the Joint Commission. Information presented at the interview will be carefully evaluated for relevance to the accreditation process. Requests for a public information interview must be made in writing and should be sent to the Joint Commission.

The requests must also indicate the nature of the information to be provided at the interview. Such requests should be addressed to:

Office of Quality Monitoring The Joint Commission One Renaissance Boulevard Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

The Joint Commission will acknowledge such requests in writing by telephone and will inform the organization of the request for any interview. The organization will, in turn, notify the interviewee of the date, time, and place of the meeting.