Pharmacy Tech News CE Lesson
• Practice good hygiene by coughing or sneezing into your arm (not hands), frequently washing hands for 15 to 20 seconds (sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice) and using hand sanitizer.
• Offer disposable facial tissues and a garbage can accessible for patients who are sneezing or blowing their noses.
• Try to avoid very close contact with sick people while still maintaining the high level of care and compassion provided at the pharmacy.
• Offer masks to patients who present with flu-like symptoms or flu diagnosis that are waiting for a prescription to prevent spread to other patients or the pharmacy team.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth.
•Regularly sanitize pharmacy countertops and other surfaces frequently touched, such as telephones, computer keyboards, etc.
• If employees or patients are sick, instruct them to stay home, unless they need to seek medical care, and not to return until fever free for at least 24 hours.
A number of patients visit the pharmacy and ask if they are in the initial target groups to receive the H1N1 vaccine. Which of the following patients are in the initial target group and should receive the H1N1 vaccine?
a) A father of a 3-month-old infant b) A 33-year-old pregnant woman c) A 45-year-old man with severe asthma d) A 22-year-old college student e) A child care provider who works in the infant room
Discussion
All of the patients are in the initial target groups and should receive the H1N1 vaccine. Below is the respective target group that each of the patients falls under.
a) A father of a 3-month-old infant
• Household contact of child younger than 6 months of age b) A 33-year-old pregnant woman
• Pregnant woman c) A 45-year-old man with severe asthma
• Person ages 25 through 64 years who has a medical condition
associated with a higher risk of influenza complications
d) A 22-year-old college student
• Person from 6 months through 24 years of age e) A child care provider who works in the infant room
• Caregiver in contact with children younger than 6 months of age
eNcourage VaccINa TIoN of pa TIeNTs IN IdeNTIfIed Targe T groups
The most important step to preventing the spread of infection is vaccination. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has identified five target groups (approximately 159 million people nationwide) as the first individuals who should receive the H1N1 vaccine because they are at higher risk for developing complications. Pharmacy technicians and pharmacists can encourage patients that fall into one of the following target groups to get the H1N1 vaccine:
6 months of age (e.g., parents, siblings and day-care providers)
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
• People from 6 months through 24 years of age
• People ages 25 through 64 years who have medical conditions associated with a higher risk of influenza complications (e.g., cancer, diabetes and asthma)
• Pregnant women
• Household and caregiver contacts of children younger than
To identify an H1N1 flu clinic, patients can be referred to their local or state public health department, or visit www.flu.gov for the “Flu Shot Locator.”
When vaccine demand has been met for these initial target groups, vaccination is recommended for all persons 25 through 64 years of age. Unlike the seasonal flu, current studies indi-
cate people age 65 years or older are at less risk for H1N1 flu than younger age groups, as they may have had previous exposure to H1N1 in their lifetime. Thus, people 65 years and older are not an initial target group. However, once vaccine demand among younger age groups has been met, programs and providers should offer vaccination to people 65 or older. Just like the seasonal flu vaccine, H1N1 vaccination is not provided to infants younger than 6 months of age.
WHa T VaccINes are aVaIlable for H1N1?
Vaccines produced by four manufacturers have been approved for H1N1 flu prevention7 (see Table 3). The Food and Drug Administration approved these vaccines as a strain change to each manufacturer’s
Pharmacy Tech News www.cedrugstorenews.com Winter 2009 • 19
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