Representative Don Humason



SWINE FLU INFORMATION October 3, 2009 By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. As I sit down to write this column, my wife Janice and I have just gotten home from “Westfield Day” at the Eastern States Exposition. It was a great night at the Big E, and a lot of fun to see so many folks from the Whip City walking around and enjoying the fair. FYI, The newest installment of my cable show, “From the State House to Your House” is now showing on the Westfield Community Programming Channel 15. This month, the topic is the celebration of the 95th anniversary of the dedication of Abner Gibbs Elementary School in Westfield and my guest is Principal Maggie Adams. Abner Gibbs is the oldest elementary school in our city, but, as Principal Adams put it, “It’s a small school with a big heart.” I invite you to tune in and watch. Show times are Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM. Future shows that I am currently planning include ones about the 104th Fighter Wing Mass Air National Guard, the 2010 census, and Amelia Park Children’s Museum. Last week I wrote a column called “H1N1 and Elderly Drivers.” Please visit my website www.DonHumason.org to read it if you missed it. I said I intended to obtain information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) on “Swine Flu” and the H1N1 bill, Senate Bill 2028, An Act Relative to Pandemic and Disaster Preparation and Response in the Commonwealth. I obtained all of the information below from the DPH website, www.mass.gov/DPH. I have cut, pasted, and paraphrased several articles and press releases together from that site for your information. I encourage you to visit the site as well to obtain additional information. H1N1 flu, also known as "swine flu," is a respiratory disease caused by a type of flu virus. Seasonal flu is a flu virus that we see every winter. Deval Patrick announced that the state has placed its first order for H1N1 vaccine with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Due to their vital public health role, the initial small shipment, set to arrive next week, will be used for health care workers only. Additional vaccine shipments will arrive weekly through the end of the flu season and, in about six to eight weeks, the Commonwealth will have enough vaccine in the state to make available to the general public. “Since the first outbreak of H1N1 this spring, we have worked overtime to prepare and provide the public with the information they need to stay healthy,” said Governor Patrick. “Today’s conference, along with news that the first shipment of the vaccine will arrive next week, are part of a broader action plan designed to give people the resources they need to reduce the spread and the severity of the illness this flu season.” Public health officials continued to encourage those at greatest risk for H1N1 – children age 6 months to 24 years, individuals who care for children under the age of 6 months, pregnant women and people with chronic underlying health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes – to get vaccinated first. “This fall is the first time in memory that people will be at risk of two different strains of flu in the same flu season,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach. Many of you may have heard rumors that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is planning to impose mandatory vaccinations as part of our response to the H1N1 (swine) flu pandemic. These rumors are not true. The Department of Public Health will not call for or authorize mandatory vaccination against the pandemic flu. There are no public health officials on the state, national, or global level calling for forced vaccination for H1N1. These rumors appear to be part of a deliberate effort to misinform concerned citizens about state and national pandemic response efforts. Since the outbreak of H1N1 in April, department personnel have been working tirelessly with health care providers and facilities, local public health officials, schools, municipalities, public safety authorities, and experts in the federal government and other states to ensure that we are prepared to respond to the resurgence in H1N1 cases, as cooler weather arrives and children return to school. The Department of Public Health’s H1N1 response plan is based on several key components: 1. Public outreach and education - educating public officials, health care providers, teachers, parents, and the general public about how to prevent the spread of the flu; what individuals should do if they or a loved one think they have the flu; and how health care facilities and schools should respond to the expected surge in H1N1 cases. 2. Support for health care providers and local public health efforts – ensuring that the on-the-ground responders have timely, accurate information about the spread of the disease and evolving response protocols; helping build response capacity at the local level; and getting resources like the vaccine, anti-viral medications, masks, gloves and other supplies effectively distributed around the state. To insure that our health care facilities can function adequately and safely through the fall and winter, we recently passed a regulation to require that hospitals, clinics and long term care facilities offer seasonal and H1N1 vaccines to all their employees. But any employee can decline such vaccinations. Even in health care facilities, no one is forced to be vaccinated. 3. Strategic planning and statewide coordination – tracking and monitoring the spread and virulence of H1N1 this fall to ensure that there is consistent and effective action taken across the state; and adapting public health protocols and response to a novel flu strain that may evolve over the course of the fall and winter. We are eager to offer the H1N1 vaccine to those most at risk who choose to be vaccinated when it becomes available in mid-October. Mandatory vaccination is not and has never been part of the plan or discussion in Massachusetts’ pandemic response. For up-to-date, accurate information about H1N1 and the Commonwealth’s response, go to our webpage at http://www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu or contact us at (617) 624-5200. * * * Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org
This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group

SWINE FLU INFORMATION

October 3, 2009

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

As I sit down to write this column, my wife Janice and I have just gotten home from “Westfield Day” at the Eastern States Exposition. It was a great night at the Big E, and a lot of fun to see so many folks from the Whip City walking around and enjoying the fair.

FYI, The newest installment of my cable show, “From the State House to Your House” is now showing on the Westfield Community Programming Channel 15. This month, the topic is the celebration of the 95th anniversary of the dedication of Abner Gibbs Elementary School in Westfield and my guest is Principal Maggie Adams. Abner Gibbs is the oldest elementary school in our city, but, as Principal Adams put it, “It’s a small school with a big heart.”

I invite you to tune in and watch. Show times are Sundays at 4:30 PM, Wednesdays at 8:30 PM, and Thursdays at 10:30 AM and 10:30 PM. Future shows that I am currently planning include ones about the 104th Fighter Wing Mass Air National Guard, the 2010 census, and Amelia Park Children’s Museum.

Last week I wrote a column called “H1N1 and Elderly Drivers.” Please visit my website www.DonHumason.org to read it if you missed it. I said I intended to obtain information from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) on “Swine Flu” and the H1N1 bill, Senate Bill 2028, An Act Relative to Pandemic and Disaster Preparation and Response in the Commonwealth.

I obtained all of the information below from the DPH website, www.mass.gov/DPH.

I have cut, pasted, and paraphrased several articles and press releases together from that site for your information. I encourage you to visit the site as well to obtain additional information.

H1N1 flu, also known as "swine flu," is a respiratory disease caused by a type of flu virus. Seasonal flu is a flu virus that we see every winter.

Deval Patrick announced that the state has placed its first order for H1N1 vaccine with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Due to their vital public health role, the initial small shipment, set to arrive next week, will be used for health care workers only. Additional vaccine shipments will arrive weekly through the end of the flu season and, in about six to eight weeks, the Commonwealth will have enough vaccine in the state to make available to the general public.

“Since the first outbreak of H1N1 this spring, we have worked overtime to prepare and provide the public with the information they need to stay healthy,” said Governor Patrick. “Today’s conference, along with news that the first shipment of the vaccine will arrive next week, are part of a broader action plan designed to give people the resources they need to reduce the spread and the severity of the illness this flu season.”

Public health officials continued to encourage those at greatest risk for H1N1 – children age 6 months to 24 years, individuals who care for children under the age of 6 months, pregnant women and people with chronic underlying health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes – to get vaccinated first.

“This fall is the first time in memory that people will be at risk of two different strains of flu in the same flu season,” said Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach.

Many of you may have heard rumors that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is planning to impose mandatory vaccinations as part of our response to the H1N1 (swine) flu pandemic. These rumors are not true.

The Department of Public Health will not call for or authorize mandatory vaccination against the pandemic flu. There are no public health officials on the state, national, or global level calling for forced vaccination for H1N1. These rumors appear to be part of a deliberate effort to misinform concerned citizens about state and national pandemic response efforts.

Since the outbreak of H1N1 in April, department personnel have been working tirelessly with health care providers and facilities, local public health officials, schools, municipalities, public safety authorities, and experts in the federal government and other states to ensure that we are prepared to respond to the resurgence in H1N1 cases, as cooler weather arrives and children return to school.

The Department of Public Health’s H1N1 response plan is based on several key components:

1. Public outreach and education - educating public officials, health care providers, teachers, parents, and the general public about how to prevent the spread of the flu; what individuals should do if they or a loved one think they have the flu; and how health care facilities and schools should respond to the expected surge in H1N1 cases.

2. Support for health care providers and local public health efforts – ensuring that the on-the-ground responders have timely, accurate information about the spread of the disease and evolving response protocols; helping build response capacity at the local level; and getting resources like the vaccine, anti-viral medications, masks, gloves and other supplies effectively distributed around the state. To insure that our health care facilities can function adequately and safely through the fall and winter, we recently passed a regulation to require that hospitals, clinics and long term care facilities offer seasonal and H1N1 vaccines to all their employees. But any employee can decline such vaccinations. Even in health care facilities, no one is forced to be vaccinated.

3. Strategic planning and statewide coordination – tracking and monitoring the spread and virulence of H1N1 this fall to ensure that there is consistent and effective action taken across the state; and adapting public health protocols and response to a novel flu strain that may evolve over the course of the fall and winter.

We are eager to offer the H1N1 vaccine to those most at risk who choose to be vaccinated when it becomes available in mid-October. Mandatory vaccination is not and has never been part of the plan or discussion in Massachusetts’ pandemic response. For up-to-date, accurate information about H1N1 and the Commonwealth’s response, go to our webpage at http://www.mass.gov/dph/swineflu or contact us at (617) 624-5200.

* * *

Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group