By Carly Rothman
The Star-Ledger
NEWARK, N.J. — The state health department will receive $10 million from the federal government to prepare for a possible resurgence of the H1N1 influenza virus, the governor’s office said yesterday.
The funding comes from $350 million in grants made available last month by the federal Department of Health and Human Services to help states prepare for potential swine and seasonal flu outbreaks.
The bulk of New Jersey’s funding — $7.4 million — will be used for public health emergency response efforts at the local, county and state levels, including the acquisition, storage and dispensation of a vaccine, said Tom Slater, a spokesman for the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
The remaining $2.6 million will be used to help health care providers prepare for a rise in demand if the novel flu strain returns in more virulent form, Slater said.
An H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available by mid-October, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
Last week, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended the vaccine be made available first to pregnant women, who are at higher risk for flu-related complications; people ages 25 to 64 with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes; and children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years, a population that has experienced high rates of flu-related illness.
People caring for infants are also among the priority groups, because children under 6 months cannot be vaccinated but are at risk for complications from the virus, according to the CDC. Health care workers and emergency medical responders are also recommended for early vaccination, because they work with vulnerable populations and would be needed on the job — not out sick — in the event of widespread illness.
Slater said delivery methods for an H1N1 influenza vaccine in New Jersey will be among the key topics discussed at the five-day Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Summit being coordinated by the agency this summer, and attended by health care providers, public health workers, and homeland security and emergency management officials.
As of last week, New Jersey had at least 960 confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza, and 15 swine-flu related deaths, according to the state health agency. Nationwide, the CDC reports 5,514 people with the novel flu strain have been hospitalized and 353 have died.
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