Dear Stakeholder:

The Department of Human Services is monitoring closely the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Health and Senior Services’ (DHSS) updates regarding H1N1 and the seasonal flu.  I encourage you to review these web-sites for the most current information available.

To raise awareness regarding the Universal Precautions recommended by the CDC and DHSS, we have designed a poster that can be displayed, distributed and posted online. I have attached the English and Spanish language versions. (It is best if printed on 8.5x14 legal size or 11x17 paper). Repetition is constant education.

As we learn more about the timing and availability of H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccinations, DHS will send out advisories, accordingly.

Of the ‘high risk’ categories recently established by the CDC, our department employs, contracts with or provides programming and/or services for every group. Among them:

• Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;
• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;
• All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
• Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and,
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

The health and safety of the individuals we serve remains our priority.

Regards,

Jennifer Velez

Commissioner

NJ Department of Human Services

September 15, 2009