Las Lomitas Elementary School District

1011 Altschul Avenue Menlo Park, CA 94025-6706
650-854-6311 http://www.llesd.k12.ca.us
Eric Hartwig, Superintendent

To keep you informed on the Health System's continuing efforts to support San Mateo County during this year's flu season, here is the latest update:

Our County continues to receive small shipments of H1N1 vaccine that is being distributed to healthcare providers throughout the County. The County has received a total of about 40,000 doses to date, which has been administered to priority populations by their providers. This is a small percentage of the overall order from providers and represents ~10% of the number of individuals we believe are in high risk priority groups.

In addition to the slow supply of H1N1 vaccine, there have been some kinks in the new Federal and State vaccine delivery system resulting in highly inequitable distribution from county to county. The good news is that the California Department of Public Health acknowledged the inequities and are addressing the issue by moving counties who received less than their share of vaccine to the front of the line for the next doses of vaccine; San Mateo County is on that list having received less than our allocation than surrounding counties.

It's up to each County to decide on the best means to distribute H1N1 vaccine to the public. The Health System plans to continue having providers serve as the main mechanism for vaccine distribution in San
Mateo County.  This strategy allows us to get the highest percentage of priority populations vaccinated in the shortest period of time. This distribution plan has prompted the following two questions, that I would
like to address:

Why isn't San Mateo County holding mass vaccination clinics? While many counties are holding mass vaccination clinics, I strongly believe a provider network distribution strategy is the most likely method to get
the highest number of priority population groups vaccinated ­ especially in light of the current vaccine shortage. My confidence in
this strategy is based on experience having done mass vaccination clinics in the past with sub-standard results, and the outcomes of our surrounding counties who are currently offering mass clinics with no ability to control distribution to high risk individuals since they
serve anyone who walks through the door. In contrast, providers know their patients and their risks, and are in the best position to administer vaccine to the priority groups, especially during the current shortage.

What about people without providers?  The vast majority of individuals in priority populations do have providers. The County has near universal healthcare coverage for kids and pregnant women, who are in the highest risk groups. It is true that individuals who do not currently have a provider will not have access to the vaccine in the near term. Until vaccine supply increases, these individuals will need to wait just as many individuals with providers are waiting. As vaccine becomes more readily available, there will be additional distribution to other
vaccinators, such as pharmacies, and we still plan to open up "mop-up" mass vaccine clinics for all residents in the future - most likely in January or later.

For the latest flu information visit www.smhealth.org/swineflu or call the County Flu Hotline at (650)573-3927.

Scott Morrow MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM