Oregon public health launches new social media tools
As the weather turns wet and cold and flu season ramps up, Oregon Public Health Division wants Oregonians to know that the very latest flu information is right at their fingertips. Since September 1, more than a thousand people in Oregon have been hospitalized with the H1N1 flu, and seasonal flu hasn't even arrived yet, so Oregon Public Health launched a new Web
site.
With more people turning to the Web to keep in touch, Oregon Public Health also offers two new social media tools: Facebook and Twitter.com.
The new and improved site has been expanded to help Oregonians get through the flu season. The site offers 24-7 access to a complete range of flu and vaccination information from prevention to care including:
• The latest Oregon H1N1 and seasonal flu news;
• A vaccine locator;
• Helpful information for individuals, families, businesses, health professionals and schools;
• A tool to help determine if you are in the vaccine target group;
• A comprehensive business toolkit complete with posters and planning help;
• Fiona Flufighter educational materials for children;
• Useful links including the Oregon Flu Facebook page;
• Oregon Public Health flu hotline's most frequently asked questions.
Oregon Public Health has also begun a television advertising campaign to inform Oregonians about flu prevention. Watch "The Gift"
here.
The Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline at 1-800-978-3040 is a good resource for people needing information on where to find seasonal or H1N1 vaccine. The state has also added a team of specially trained nurses to the hotline to answer questions about symptoms and other flu-related medical question.
Since Sept. 1, 2009, 1,183 people have been hospitalized in Oregon with influenza-like illness; 49 people have died.
Private drug manufacturers continue to ship the H1N1 influenza vaccine into Oregon, with more arriving each week. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has allocated another 136,749 doses to Oregon expected by Friday, Nov. 27, bringing the cumulative total to 664,904.
The people at higher risk, and those who take care of them, include:
• Individuals aged 5-64 years with chronic medical conditions that put them at risk for complications from influenza infection (cardio-pulmonary disease, diabetes, asthma), including those with neuro-developmental and other conditions that decrease their ability to handle respiratory secretions;
• pregnant women;
• children up to age 5;
• household contacts and caretakers of infants under 6 months;
• health care workers and emergency services personnel.
The Oregon Public Health Division regularly surveys the counties and posts current public clinic information
here.
Oregon Public Health flu hotline at 1-800-978-3040 has added a team of specially trained nurses to answer medical questions related to flu, including how to care for someone who has the flu and when to see a doctor.
See the attached graphics for a visual of hospitalizations/deaths and vaccine delivery in Oregon. For more information on H1N1 flu and vaccines, call the Oregon Public Health Flu Hotline at 1-800-978-3040.
Marion County H1N1 update
Marion County Health Department will receive another shipment of 2009 H1N1 vaccine and will open their phone bank at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 19 to schedule appointments for H1N1 shots.
The phone bank number is 503-584-4870. Based on direction from the Oregon Public Health Division, these appointments will only be available for people at highest risk for complications from the flu, including:
-People ages 5 years through 64 years with underlying health conditions
-Children 6 months through 4 years old
-Pregnant women
-Household caretakers of infants less than 6 months old
People who are in one of the priority groups listed above may call the phone bank beginning at 8:30am on November 19.
The Oregon Public Health Division asks that healthy children ages 5 through 18 years of age and healthy young adults 19 through 24 years of age either wait to be vaccinated until all people with chronic health conditions have received the vaccine, or they may receive the nasal spray when it becomes available. At this time, there are no appointments to receive the nasal spray. If MCHD receives more of the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine, they will open up appointments so healthy people 5 through 24 years old can get vaccinated.
The MCHD is also working with local schools to help them plan vaccination clinics. Parents of school children with chronic health conditions should watch their children's backpacks and the mail for notices about H1N1 vaccination clinics in local schools.
For additional information, please visit one of the websites below, or call the Oregon Public Health hotline at 1-800-978-3040.
