By Joy Pierce Mathews for Summit Medical Group

Although H1N1 influenza (formerly known as the swine flu) continues to infect people in the United States, most people who have become ill with the virus have recovered without treatment. The range of illness with H1N1 has been mild to severe, with more serious cases in people who have weakened immune systems or other health conditions that make them more susceptible to influenza and its complications.

H1N1 Compared With Seasonal Flu
H1N1 has infected far fewer people than seasonal flu. For example, data show an average 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized each year from complications of seasonal flu. Between 2006 and 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 436 deaths and 6506 hospitalizations from H1N1. In addition, H1N1 has caused fewer complications and deaths in people aged 64 years and older compared with seasonal flu.

Even though H1N1 has affected far fewer people than seasonal flu, it is important to know if you are at risk. If you have influenza symptoms, it is important to take precautions. Wash your hands frequently (especially after you have touched your eyes, nose, or mouth), practice respiratory etiquette (sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve), and stay home to help prevent the virus from spreading (only after a physician's recommendation).

H1N1 Vaccine
Summit Medical Group is partnering with the New Jersey State Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that as many people as possible in our area receive a vaccination for the H1N1 virus.

Summit Medical Group Chief Medical Officer, Robert Brenner, MD, MMM, notes, “We are eager to meet the health care needs of our community and are making thoughtful preparations so that we can administer the H1N1 vaccine to our patients as soon as it's available.” Dr. Brenner adds, "The circumstances for delivering vaccinations for H1N1 are unusual compared with the seasonal flu. We're expecting to deliver thousands of vaccines in a very short period of time. For this reason, we'll most likely offer to give the H1N1 vaccine after hours—both for the convenience of our patients and so that we can vaccinate more patients sooner."

Summit Medical Group's H1N1 vaccination supply is reserved only for its patients. If you are not a patient of Summit Medical Group, please ask your local board of health how you can get vaccinated.

Some schools are planning to offer the H1N1 vaccine to its students. If you are a parent, please first check with your local school district to find out if your child can be vaccinated at his or her school.

If You Have Influenza Symptoms
Summit Medical Group continues to treat patients at high risk for influenza, including those who have had significant exposure to H1N1, a fever higher than 101^° F, myalgias, vomiting/diarrhea, and difficulty breathing.

If your symptoms are not severe (fever lower than 101° F, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or shortness of breath) you should call your physician immediately for advice. In many cases, patients with mild symptoms are encouraged to stay home until symptoms improve. 

If you have more severe symptoms such as fever higher than 101° F, cough, sore throat, aches, and severe fatigue, as well as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting you should call your Summit Medical Group physician immediately to ask about the best course of action.

The CDC recommends that the following people be certain to have the H1N1 vaccination:

• Pregnant women
• All people aged 6 months to 24 years
• People aged 25 through 64 years with chronic health conditions* such as
  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Heart disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Cancer
  • Immune disorders
  • Diabetes
• Household contacts and caregivers of children aged 6 months or younger
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel

People such as these are at high risk of serious complications from H1N1 and we strongly recommend that they be vaccinated.

Important Information About Who Can Receive the H1N1 Vaccination
The New Jersey Department of Health has lifted priority group restrictions for vaccine delivery; therefore, any Summit Medical Group patient who would like an H1N1 vaccine is now eligible to receive it. To receive a vaccination, you must be a Summit Medical Group patient who has been seen by a Summit Medical Group provider within the last two years. If you are not a patient of the Group, you will not be eligible to receive a vaccination at a Summit Medical Group clinic.

Egg Allergy, Vaccinations, and Your Child
Some people, including those with an allergy to eggs, should not have certain vaccinations. For example, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices suggests that people with a history of hypersensitivity to eggs should not receive the influenza vaccine without first consulting their physician. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Disease recommends not vaccinating anyone with known sensitivity or allergy to chicken and egg proteins.

Despite these recommendations, recent research shows that even some people with sensitivity to chicken or egg protein can be vaccinated safely when they are under the care of an allergist.

The amount of egg protein contained in an influenza vaccination varies by product, manufacturer, and production lots. For this reason, some patients who are sensitive to chicken or egg proteins can safely receive the influenza vaccination. Summit Medical Group allergists are now providing a unique service that includes skin testing and careful in-office patient monitoring so that the influenza vaccine can be safely administered to certain egg-allergic pediatric patients.

If you are unsure whether your child should be vaccinated for influenza, be sure to tell your Summit Medical Group pediatrician about all of your child’s allergies. He or she will tell you whether your child should be vaccinated or referred to our allergists for further evaluation.

For updated information about vaccination availability,
please continue to visit our Web site.

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 *People with the following chronic or underlying health conditions have a higher risk of complications from influenza:

• Children and adolescents aged 18 years or younger who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for Reye syndrome after having the influenza virus
• Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, liver, blood, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including those listed above)
• Adults and children who have an immune system that is compromised as a result of disease such as HIV or a condition or medication