As the H1N1 vaccination campaign comes to an end for this season, the Seminole County Health Department can declare this first time effort a highly successful coordinated effort spreading the message to hundreds of thousands across the region and administering close to 40,000 inoculations. 

 

Seminole County was the first county in the state to offer mass vaccination clinics and to make the vaccine available to the public for free. Taking a different approach from other counties was a challenge, but working in collaboration and maintaining open communication with county agencies greatly facilitated our approach. Initially Seminole County Health Department (SCHD) had the option of funneling the vaccine out to private physicians for distribution. However, through coordinated provider forums, SCHD was able to identify that our physicians could become overwhelmed with high numbers of patients of their own and other patients whose primary doctor might have chosen not to distribute the vaccine. Based on this information and other considerations, SCHD took on the task of coordinating mass vaccination clinics for the public throughout the entire county.

 

Throughout the campaign, 97 physician’s offices registered through Florida SHOTS to provide H1N1 (09) vaccines to their patients. A small number of registered providers have several physicians within their practice who are providing H1N1 (09) immunizations. Most of the providers continue to offer H1N1 vaccines. To date, 42,500 doses of injectable and nasal mist vaccines have been directly shipped their facilities. Approximately 10 percent of the overall doses delivered to them are available in their refrigerators for immediate use. Furthermore, another 24,100 doses were allocated and shipped to larger pharmacy chains for their customers. Pharmacies are now ordering vaccine directly from the CDC with direct shipping to their distribution centers. Internally, the SCHD received 45,700 doses, most of which were distributed through our clinics at the various schools in the county.   

 

The universal obstacle met by providers early in the campaign occurred when the demand for vaccination was highest, namely due to vaccine shortages and subsequent reduction of order fulfillment. A great deal of frustration among physicians and patients alike was noted. 

 

Based on open conversation with doctors and their staff SCHD was able to get feedback on how the mass vaccination campaigns impacted their practice. Those physicians who commented on the events indicated there was no way their office could have reached the thousands who came to the Saturday vaccination clinics. One office commented on trying to imagine how it was even possible to inoculate 2-3 thousand people in one day.

 

 

 

Without question, the most successful component of the campaign was the mass immunization clinic that utilized high school cafeteria venues to immunize 13,974 citizens of Seminole county. Anecdotal feedback from a number of surrounding county residents who accessed these clinics was consistent in that they were very happy to be vaccinated at the Seminole county sites because they could not find a source in their home county.

 

On a smaller scale, but nevertheless very successful, were the outreach efforts at the Seminole Town Centre Mall, several local business sites and community events. Business site staff expressed a tremendous level of gratitude in our reaching out to their employees at their place of business. The work force would not have otherwise received protection for the 2009 H1N1virus without leaving gaps in business production.

 

In addition to the school based clinics, SCHD has also participated in other community events in order to reach all segments of the population:

 

13 Community/Faith Based Events with 2,212 total H1N1 Vaccinations administered, 6 Business/Corporate Events with 369 H1N1 Vaccinations administered, 13 School/School Support based Events 15,368 Vaccinations administered.

 

The Seminole County Health Department plans to continue its vaccination efforts until the first of March. Until then several additional events are on the schedule including 3 Community/Faith Based events, 7 Business/Corporate events and 3 School/University events.

 

The Seminole County Health Department would like to thank everyone involved in this important venture to protect the health of the Seminole County community. The health department fully recognizes that these events could have not been done without the help and cooperation of local physicians, Seminole County Public Schools, Seminole State College, and many local businesses and community organizations.  

 

Vaccine requests for less than 100 doses from doctor’s offices can still be filled by calling the Seminole County Health Department H1N1 vaccination office at 407.665.2042.