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Beran TN, Ramirez-Serrano A, Vanderkooi OG, et al. Reducing children's pain and distress towards flu vaccinations: a novel and effective application of humanoid robotics. Vaccine 2013 Jun 7;31(25):2772-7
Blaschke AJ, Shapiro DJ, Pavia AT, et al. A national study of the impact of rapid influenza testing on clinical care in the emergency department. J Pediatric Infect Dis Society 2013 (published online Nov 13)
Blyth CC, Webb SAR, Kok J, et al. The impact of bacterial and viral co-infection in severe influenza. Influenza Other Respi Viruses 2013 Mar;7(2):168-76
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Bueno M, Calvo C, Mendez-Echevarria A, et al. Oseltamivir treatment for influenza in hospitalized children without underlying diseases. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2013 (published online May 29)
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Public Health - Seattle & King County (Washington)
,
Washington
Health Matters is a well-written, 8-page newsletter that provides essential information about pandemic influenza to the public. The articles provide essential and practical information about what to expect during a pandemic, and emphasize personal preparedness, prevention, and home care. The document is an ideal tool for placement on desks or web sites at local health departments or distribution at health fairs, clinics, and public presentations.
The PIO avian flu functional exercise materials were adapted from a public information exercise designed to test the Ohio state communications plan and practice the formation of a joint information center.
The Planning Kit for Schools has the potential to increase pandemic influenza awareness, assist schools in maintaining continuity of education, and serve as a resource for the greater community. The kit carefully describes tangible steps that schools can take to plan for a pandemic, and the templates require organizations to identify specific school personnel as part of an incident command structure.
Public Health - Seattle & King County (Washington)
,
Washington
The Social Distancing Protocol identifies types of social distancing, assesses the probable economic and social impact of each measure, and provides a guide for phased implementation based on WHO pandemic phase and local surveillance. These materials would be useful for review by state and local health departments, because they reference proposed decision-makers at each level of implementation.
The Community Readiness Challenge encourages individuals and families to build a pandemic preparedness kit by providing detailed lists of weekly items to buy and ways to prepare for 26 weeks. The LOCC box portion of the program uses business donations to assemble personal preparedness kits for economically-disadvantaged citizens. This practice is noteworthy, because it addresses a group for which there is little focus on prevention and planning efforts.
City of Bloomington Public Health Division (Minnesota)
,
Minnesota
A local attempt prioritized public health services and determined pertinent parameters for operation during a pandemic. The description of each prioritized service is accompanied by information on the minimum number of staff required to perform the service, necessary products, and ability of staff to perform the service from home. The document could serve as a beginning template for local agencies that have not begun the difficult discussions around public health continuity.
New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
,
New Jersey
A concept paper provides a process by which a public health department can provide statewide accessibility to select medical information and home medical treatment during an influenza pandemic. Existing Medical Coordination Centers (MCCs) are proposed as regional centers for public health operations, such as phone banks, home visit dispatch, provision of medical advice, security, Medical Reserve Corps operations, antiviral dispensing, and EMS coordination.
The hour-long DVD provides practical, detailed information on caring for ill persons, including those with influenza, at home. It is aimed at non-medical care providers.
A well-written and valuable guide on the ethics of influenza vaccine distribution was the product of a multidisciplinary work group composed of public health professionals, ethicists, healthcare providers, and legal experts. The aim of the work group was to provide ethical guidance for Minnesota's statewide pandemic planning efforts, and the group chose to focus on ethical distribution of vaccine as a scarce resource.
