Letter from Steven L. Strongwater, MD, Chief Executive Officer
As you will recall, Stony Brook University Hospital has placed an order with the CDC for 20,000 doses of adult and 2,000 doses of pediatric 2009 novel H1N1 formulations — more than enough for our anticipated requirements. But, as of this date, we still have received little of the order and we are working on the guidance from the H1N1 influenza distribution office at the Suffolk County Department of Health Services that the CDC is still experiencing production delays and we should not expect large amounts of the vaccine until mid-November or later.
Last week we began our program to vaccinate hospital staff and the highest priority patients within the hospital against H1N1 influenza using the following criteria:
| • | Inpatient children with comorbidity |
| • | Inpatient pregnant women |
| • | Parents of infants in the NICU |
| • | Postpartum women |
We are continuing to vaccinate the original priority group as new patients are admitted. Additionally, beginning on Friday , November 13 we will expand the priority group being offered the vaccine based on the following expanded criteria:
Patients
| • | Outpatient pregnant women |
| • | Additional inpatient groups – adults on medicine/family medicine service |
| • | Patients with infants at home who are less than six months of age |
Staff
| • | All staff with “Hospital Access” on their identification badges |
| • | Regardless of hospital access, all pregnant hospital staff and all hospital staff with infants at home less than six months of age. |
We are still at risk for the near term of exhausting our supply of vaccine. However, we will continue to vaccinate the original cohort as new patients are admitted and the patients and staff described above. Please note that the situation continues to change on a daily basis.
Staff may receive their vaccinations by going to the Employee Health Department beginning on Friday morning (Nov. 13). The Department will be working on an extended schedule as follows:
| • | Monday, Wednesday and Friday 7 AM – 7 PM |
| • | Tuesday and Thursday 7 AM – 4 PM |
Please make sure to wear your ID badge for identification as a “Hospital Access” employee.
Additional guidance will be issued for units to obtain the vaccine for eligible inpatients and outpatients.
We will continue to do our best to bring you up to date in a timely manner. For more information, you may want to visit the SBUH Intranet site for detailed updates from the CDC, NYS DoH and other sources. Also, the external facing hospital Internet site (a href="www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org">www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org) contains a thorough compilation of accurate H1N1 information and new which can be accessed by clicking on the H1N1 button on the Home Page.
Thank you for your patience and perseverance as we battle through this pandemic together. If you have any additional questions, please check either of the following resources:
CDC website: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
NYS DOH website: http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/, or call the NYS Department of Health 24/7 public hotline at 1-800-808-1987.
If you have any questions about the internal policy stated in this email as it relates to employee immunization please contact Liz McCoy, Chief Human Resources Officer, 444-6440. For questions related to patient immunization please contact Dr William Greene, Chief Quality Officer, 444-2721.
Sincerely,
Steven L. Strongwater, MD
Chief Executive Officer
