Flu Shots

Flu shots will be offered to LSUHSC New Orleans faculty, staff and students during the first week of October, brought to you by the School of Nursing. This year the flu shot will be administered in one dose and will help protect you and others against H3N2, influenza B, and the H1N1 viruses.

Those who should avoid vaccinations are:

• Infants under 6 months of age

• People with egg allergies

• People who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past

• People with a mild to severe illness

• People who have developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks of getting the flu vaccine

What: Flu Shots
When: October 6th, 7th & 8th b/w 9am – 2:30pm
Where: School of Nursing – Room 5B12 (5th floor)
Cost: $15.00 for faculty & staff; payable to LSUHSC-NO by check or money order (Cost is free for students)

Swine flu rap

Today’s the last day to vote for the US Dept. of Health and Human Services 2009 Flu Prevention PSA contest. Who could resist the swine flu rap, by Dr. Clarke?




Spoonful of Medicine also points out a swine flu rap done by cute little pigs. It’s in Chinese but there are subtitles.

Seasonal Flu Shots@LSUHSC

Speaking of being prepared, seasonal flu shots will be available September 23, 24 and 25 (next Weds. – Fri.) from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the School of Nursing, 1900 Gravier Street, 5th floor IV lab. Free for students and $10 for Faculty & Staff payable by cash or check.

~EDIT~ Shots were cancelled due to a shortage of vaccine. edited 9/21/09 @ 8:44 a.m.

LSUHSC has also created a H1N1 info portal, with updated swine flu information. Our campus is also applying to become a point of distribution for the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. The H1N1 flu vaccine will be distributed in accordance with the CDC’s priority group vaccination recommendations.

Free Influenza Resource from EBSCO

Influenza: Evidence Based Resources is a FREE database offered by EBSCO Publishing (from whom the Libraries purchase a number of databases). It is comprised of selected resources from a number of its health related databases. And includes information for clinicians, nurses and patients.

Flu Statistics for LA

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has released its Influenza Surveillance Report through the end of August. It finds that:

Further the report states that “there are 737 lab confirmed cases of 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) in Louisiana. Based on an extrapolation from CDC data, the real case count in Louisiana is closer to 39,000.”

Don’t forget to follow the CDC guidelines for staying healthy.

Influenza Update

With reports the past weeks of daycare center closings, sidelined football players, and sniffling sorority girls, clearly Louisiana is not immune from H1N1 outbreaks. As of August 17, 2009, Louisiana reports 449 confirmed cases and 1 related death (also in New Orleans) from the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, aka the Swine Flu.

For local & state information on influenza, visit www.FluLa.com, from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. There you will find weekly statistics and public health updates, as well as flu information for patients in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Clinicians can also access an Online Training Course on local flu preparedness, testing protocols, regional OPH offices, and info from the Louisiana Office of Public Health Lab like the Lab 96 form and instructions for swine flu testing.

For national swine flu information, the CDC is always your best bet: http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines

CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) published the 2009 guidelines for the use of influenza vaccine for the prevention and control of seasonal influenza on July 30th, 2009. These guidelines are for seasonal flu, for which there are vaccines, and not swine flu, though clinical trials are underway for the H1N1 virus.

“Flu season” generally runs October – May. During these months, the CDC collects and publishes weekly influenza surveillance reports, like the one shown above. In fact, you can even get flu updates sent to your phone.

Who needs the seasonal flu vaccine? Health care workers, for one, as well as young children, the aged, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions. LSUHSC – NO usually offers flu shots for a small fee during the month of October.

More flu information from the CDC.