Billing Help
Directions to PVH
Email the CEO
Patients & Families
Giving to PVH
Online Greeting Cards
Phone Directory
Find a Physician
Services
The People You Know
The Care You Trust
Volunteer
Community Events
Net Nursery
Practical Advice
|
|
|
|
|
H1N1 Still a Concern
February 16, 2010
 This last week, Maine recorded its 19th death from 2009 H1N1. Although some premature national news reports have indicated that the danger from H1N1 (swine flu) has passed, the people of Maine are still at risk, especially since we often see a resurgence of the flu shortly after the February school break.
A collaborative of numerous health care, wellness, pharmacy, and other agencies and organizations has worked together to reach the largest pockets of people gathering in the next few weeks. Our hope is to reach as many people with free H1N1 vaccinations as possible. Working with these other agencies, Penobscot Valley Hospital will be assisting with one of the biggest clinics in the region.
Please join us at Macy’s court in Bangor Mall Thursday, February 18 through Saturday, February 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and then on Sunday, February 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We will be working without our partners in the region to supply free H1N1 vaccinations to people of all ages.
Maine’s successes in addressing the H1N1 pandemic, so far, have been primarily due to the hard work and collaboration of the people in our emergency management system, hospitals, physician groups, business, government agencies, retailers and many others. We are extremely happy to be part of this effort and would like to congratulate everyone for their hard work; however, the work is not done.
The course of the pandemic is unpredictable. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the virus will continue to circulate for months if not years to come. Director of the Maine CDC, Dr. Dora Ann Mills says even this past month Maine has seen 11 people from across the state hospitalized, including four children. One of these hospitalized was a young adult who also tragically died from the disease.
As of late January, an estimated 70 million Americans have received the H1N1 influenza vaccine. The vaccine has been formulated in the same way our normal, seasonal flu shots are made and in about the same time period.
The H1N1 vaccine is especially recommended for those at high risk for severe disease: all children and young adults ages 6 months to 24; pregnant women; and people with underlying chronic medical conditions. Because they can pass the disease on to those at high risk for severe complications, the vaccine is also highly recommended for health care workers and those who care for or come into contact with infants under 6 months in the home.
Seniors should get vaccinated, because if they contract the infection, they are at high risk for complications.
Many people from our region will be traveling to Bangor for the basketball tournaments this month. Please consider stopping by the Bangor Mall clinic February 18-21 in Macy’s Court for your free H1N1 vaccination, and watch the Lincoln News for advertisements of additional clinics in our area. For a full list of clinics throughout the region, please visit www.maineflu.gov.
|
|