Flu Facts: What You Need to Know
Welcome to the H1N1 (Swine) Flu Website
H1N1 flu, also known as "swine flu," is a respiratory disease caused by a type of flu virus. The Department of Public Health has collected the following resources to help you better understand the disease. For the most up to date information on H1N1 (swine) flu in MA, please visit our blog and the DPH home page.
Vaccine Update (posted Nov. 17, 2009):
As of November 16th, the state has received just over 1 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine. However, this is still less than one third of the total amount of vaccine we have ordered. Each week we receive tens of thousands of vaccine doses in our state but we need much more in order to fully address the need. According to the latest projections from the federal government, we will see a significant increase in the volume of doses in our vaccine shipments by the second week in December.
Since it first became available in small amounts in early October, most of the vaccine has been sent to clinical settings - primarily obstetricians and pediatricians. But because there are thousands of clinical settings that share these shipments, none of them have received their complete order. In general, the size of the shipment that a clinical site receives each week is a reflection of the number of patients in the targeted priority groups that it cares for. In addition, a certain amount goes to local public health departments, many of whom have begun to conduct a limited number of community-level public clinics, some of which are school-based. We will be seeing more and more of these public vaccination efforts in the coming weeks, giving residents an alternative to getting the vaccine from their doctors.
There are several ways you can stay informed about the availability of the H1N1 flu vaccine in your community:
- Stay in touch with your health care provider.
- Visit http://flu.masspro.org. Limited numbers of public clinics are now posted which you can search by zip code. More clinics will be added to this database as they are scheduled.
- Contact your local public health department, local community health center or call 211 to see if they know when clinics will begin in your area.
- Keep up to date on the vaccine situation in the state by regularly visiting our blog
New Flu Facts Program Now on Cable TV
Flu Facts: What You Should Know is now available for viewing on Comcast and Time Warner cable, as an "On Demand" viewing option. This 30-minute program features information on H1N1 (swine) flu and answers many frequently asked questions about flu prevention and treatment.
Comcast customers: From the On Demand menu, click on "Searchlight", then "MyLifeOnDemand", then "My Local Health", then "MDPH", then "Flu Facts".
Time Warner customers: Tune to channel 1278 and scroll over to the "All Titles" or "Wellness" category, then click on "Flu Facts".
Link to Our H1N1 Blog
Get the latest information on flu activity in Massachusetts.
Basic Information about H1N1
Read a letter from Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach on the efforts to contain the spread of H1N1 (swine) flu in Massachusetts, plus get answers to the most frequently asked questions about the disease. FAQs are available for download in several languages.
Protecting, Preparing, and Caring - for Yourself and Others
Tips on how to protect yourself and loved ones from catching the H1N1 virus, and information on how to care for people who are sick with H1N1 (swine) flu.
Information for Specific Groups
Information and guidance on the H1N1 (swine) flu for specific groups of people: Pregnant Women and Parents; Employers; School and Childcare Professionals; and Healthcare and Public Health Professionals.
Materials from Statewide Flu Summit on September 30, 2009
Audio & Video Resources
Listen to our podcasts and audio files on a variety of topics surrounding H1N1 (swine) flu and read our blog for the most up to date information coming out of the Department of Public Health.
CDC Flu Page
Read the latest information coming out of the CDC regarding H1N1 (swine) flu.
Seasonal Flu
Seasonal flu is a flu virus that we see every winter. Learn more about seasonal flu virus, and the simple, common-sense ways that you can protect yourself and your family from getting sick this flu season.
| In addition to all the latest information and updates posted here, we also want to let you know about www.flu.gov, another valuable resource on what's happening with seasonal and H1N1 flu. By clicking on the logo at left, you'll find some terrific information on vaccine myths vs. facts, a flu self-evaluation tool which can help reduce trips to the doctor's office or emergency room, plenty of multimedia educational materials for children, and a lot more. |
This information is provided by Communicable Disease Control within the Department of Public Health.