AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
2009 BH "Dear Administrator" Letters
September 18, 2009
ADSA: BH #2009-017
Influenza and Pneumonia Shot Reminders
Dear Boarding Home Administrator:
Influenza (flu) and pneumonia season is almost here. Residential Care Services is partnering with the Department of Health Immunization Program CHILD Profile to remind providers about the benefits of vaccinating residents and employees against the flu.
We encourage you to start planning now for how to protect your residents and staff against this potentially serious and preventable disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that adults age 65 years and older comprise 90 percent of deaths that occur each year from complications related to seasonal influenza and pneumonia. Approximately 63 percent of the 200,000 hospitalizations from seasonal influenza-related causes involve people age 65 years and older. Flu and pneumonia shots can decrease the rate of hospitalizations and deaths from these diseases.
There are many websites that provide information on pneumonia and influenza, including H1N1 (swine flu). We encourage you to check these websites often for new information:
Department of Health:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
For boarding homes that have the professional scope of practice and choose to administer the vaccines, you can access information on Medicare coverage and reimbursement rules for the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine and for seasonal flu coverage and reimbursement at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0920.pdf
We have also updated our internet website under Professionals & Providers to include the above links and other resources. See http://www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov/professional/bh.htm
Please contact your local health department if you have questions about flu and pneumonia shots. If your questions are related to infection control regulations, please call your RCS Field Manager.
Sincerely,
Joyce Pashley Stockwell, Director
Residential Care Services
Department of Social and Health Services
Janna Bardi, MPH
Immunization Program CHILD Profile Manager
Washington State Department of Health
