Advisory for Vaccination and other Preventive Measures in Health Care Workers and General Public: Seasonal Influenza A (H1N1)

Health Care Workers (HCWs)¹

• It is known that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vaccination of high risk groups with seasonal influenza vaccination. As HCWs working in close proximity to influenza patients are at higher risk of acquiring the disease, vaccination is recommended for them.

• Following are the HCWs who would require this vaccination:

• Working in casualty/ emergency department of identified hospitals treating Influenza cases.
• Working in ICU and Isolation Wards managing influenza patients
• Identified to work in screening centres that would be set up for categorization of patients during seasonal influenza outbreak
• Those treating/managing the high risk group
• Laboratory personnel working in virological laboratories testing Influenza samples.
• Rapid Response Team members investigating outbreaks of influenza
• Drivers and staff of vehicles/ambulances involved in transfer of influenza patients

• This vaccine should be used annually. The preventive modality of infection prevention and control practices like use of PPEs should be strictly adhered to. The available vaccine takes about 2-3 weeks for development of immunity. The use of chemoprophylaxis during this period may be considered.

General Public²

• Currently, the vaccine is not recommended for the use in general public. Instead general precautions like frequent hand wash, covering coughs and sneezes, staying away from crowded places and from patients with influenza symptoms, are all preventive measures.
• One should immediately visit the nearest health facility in case of any influenza symptoms for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
• A three layered surgical mask or N-95 respirator mask should be provided to the patients once they are diagnosed with swine flu so as to avoid the spread of the virus to others. These masks are not necessary for the patient’s relatives.

References

1. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
2. http://mohfw.gov.in/showfile.php?lid=3073 last accessed on 27^th February 2014
3. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Indiahttp://mohfw.gov.in/showfile.php?lid=3074last accessed on 27th February 2014