TAFP H1N1 flu resources

updated 02.01.10

The TAFP Commission on Public Health, Clinical Affairs and Research has agreed to develop H1N1 swine flu resources for family physicians, as well as pool available resources from the CDC, AAFP and state and national public health organizations. We’ll make them available as they are brought to our attention. If you would like to share your H1N1 flu resource, e-mail Kate McCann at kmccann@tafp.org.

DSHS

The Texas Department of State Health Services has gathered their swine flu resources in one place: www.texasflu.org. This section on their website contains information for health care professionals and patients.

Now that there are adequate vaccines available, DSHS encourages physicians to continue vaccinating the public against H1N1 flu. There is still a potential for a third wave of H1N1 and there is concern for a lack of demand of H1N1 vaccine. Physicians should encourage seniors to get the vaccine as well as children under 10 years of age to receive the second dose.

Novel H1N1 vaccine guidance differs slightly from the seasonal flu vaccine guidance. For the seasonal flu vaccine, children ages 6 months thru 8 years who are being vaccinated against flu for the first time should be given 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart. Children who received only one dose during their first influenza season should receive two doses, rather than one, in the following flu season. Read more in 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine - Dose Spacing for Children 6 Months through 9 Years of Age and 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Dose Spacing and Administration with Seasonal Influenza and Other Vaccines.

Open online ordering became available starting Jan. 14, 2010 to all registered Vaccine Ordering and Reporting System (VORS) providers. Since the fall, DSHS has allocated Texas’ limited supply of vaccine to priority populations. DSHS is pleased to report that H1N1 vaccine quantities are currently at adequate levels to support open ordering. For ordering assistance contact DSHS Vaccine Call Center at (888) 777-5320; Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

A flu vaccine locator tool is available on the DSHS website, www.dshs.state.tx.us/txflu/flu-locator, to help people find vaccine in their areas. Patients can enter a city or zip code to see a list of nearby providers offering or planning to offer H1N1 vaccine to the public.

DSHS will provide the H1N1 flu vaccine free of charge. To be reimbursed for administering the H1N1 flu vaccine to Medicaid beneficiaries, physicians must include the pandemic flu vaccine procedure code (90663) on the claim, which will process as informational only, and must also include the appropriate vaccine administration code. For more information, read the rest of the announcement from the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership For information on other payer requirements, read Oct. 6 coverage by AAFP News Now.

Texas Medicaid and the Children with Special Health Care Needs Services Program will cover antiviral medications zanamivir inhalation powder (Relenza) and oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) for beneficiaries of all ages when provided by a physician, APN or physician assistant in the office setting. Learn more on the TMHP website.

DSHS opened a health advice hotline in September for Texans to use if they suspect they or their family member have the flu. They should dial 2-1-1 for over-the-phone medical advice. Read the Sept. 29 press release.

CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has gathered resources on the swine flu to help you recognize symptoms and answer patients’ questions. Go to the dedicated swine flu information page, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu, and click on “Guidance” in the left-hand column to access a listing of documents on caring for patients, prevention and treatment in young children, and considerations for pregnant women.

The CDC will use the same process used to ship vaccines for the childhood immunization program to immunization providers. See CDC Novel H1N1 Vaccination Planning Q&A, www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/statelocal/qa.htm.

Also from the CDC, read a special article by Pascale Wortley, M.D., M.P.H., of the CDC H1N1 Vaccine Implementation Team. The document, "Preparing for Vaccination with Novel H1N1 Vaccine," is specifically targeted to physicians.

Other links
Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel, Oct. 14
ACIP Guidance on H1N1 MMWR Vol. 58 / Early Release, Aug. 21

AAFP

The American Academy of Family Physicians launched the “Swine Flu H1N1” section on the AAFP Web site during the first outbreak in spring 2009. It provides members links to the latest information from the CDC, World Health Organization, state health departments and the U.S. Government’s Pandemic Flu Web site. New additions to this section are a webcast on the H1N1 outbreak, as well as August posts on CDC recommendations, and vaccine distribution and development. Also view AAFP’s H1N1 Administration Coding page on the national Academy’s website.

Other links
AAFP Web Resource Transmits Payer Instructions for Administering H1N1 Vaccine, AAFP News Now, Oct. 6
Here's How to Get Paid for Administering H1N1 Vaccine, AAFP News Now, Sept. 16
H1N1 Vaccine Production Lagging Behind Expectations, AAFP News Now, Aug. 19
H1N1 Vaccine Clinical Trials in Adults Free of Serious Adverse Events, AAFP News Now, Aug. 26

Do your patients have questions? Direct them to the H1N1 Frequently Asked Questions page of www.familydoctor.org.

DSHS—Regular flu

To educate physicians and their patients on the regular flu season and vaccinations, DSHS has released seasonal influenza vaccine information statements in English, with Spanish translations in the works. Read them here and pass along to your patients:

As physicians who administer vaccines know, the CDC requires states to place vaccine orders for flu vaccines by April or May of each year for the following flu season, and in September and October, they evaluate the amount of vaccine ordered by all the states. If vaccine is available through the CDC contracts, states are given the opportunity to order additional vaccine in a second round of ordering. Once all the states’ second round of orders is submitted, the CDC allocates remaining doses of vaccine to states.

The DSHS Immunization Branch conducted the annual flu vaccine order campaign for Texas in February and March of this year by an online ordering process, and placed its order with the CDC. Should a second round of ordering arise, DSHS will notify physicians and other vaccine administrators. Staff in the Texas Vaccines For Children program will work out the details of the order when or if it happens.