Virginia officials unveil swine flu plans

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine joined the state's health commissioner Tuesday in announcing Virginia 's plan to prepare for an upswing in swine flu cases this fall.

The state has registered more than 2,000 doctors, clinics, pharmacies, retail stores and other providers to participate in the state's voluntary vaccination program to ward against the H1N1 virus, or swine flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that pregnant women, children and young adults through age 24, people with underlying health conditions, health-care workers and emergency medical service providers be given priority for the vaccine.

Phillip Giaramita, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Health, said the state will get about 800,000 to a million doses of the H1N1 vaccine in October. He said just about anyone who wants the vaccine should be able to get one.

Health officials also are encouraging people to get vaccinated for the regular flu as soon as possible because that vaccine is already available.

The governor and State Health Commissioner Karen Remley announced the action plan at Samuel Tucker Elementary School in Alexandria on Tuesday. The plan calls for a close partnership between public health officials and schools to monitor and prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.

School officials are asked to:

• Regularly report absentees to public health officials to track the virus in the state.
• Advise faculty, staff, parents and students to stay home if they have flu symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat, until they have been without a fever for 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medicine.
• Encourage people to receive a seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible.
• Report sudden increases in illnesses in schools to public health officials.
• Promote good hand hygiene and cough and sneeze practices.

Elizabeth Simpson, (757) 446-2635, elizabeth.simpson@pilotonline.com