Collin County to receive federal funds for emergency H1N1 vaccine distribution

by Bill Baumbach of The Collin County Observer

$707,000 is earmarked to coordinate planning and distribution of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine and/or anti-virals.

The Collin County Observer has learned that the county is due to receive federal stimulus grants totaling over $707,000 earmarked to coordinate planning and distribution of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccine and/or anti-virals.

The grant funds will allow the county to react to any decision by the federal government to initiate a mass vaccination campaign. The county will be able to use the money for planning, recruitment of staff, contractors or volunteers that will actually do the vaccinations or dosing of anti-viral medications, and staging of supplies needed. However, while the county can plan and get a system organized, it can not implement any mass vaccinations unless and until the federal government issues a declaration of need.

The grant will cover costs for vaccinating "target population groups". The state defines the target groups as:

* pregnant women

* people living with a baby under 6 months old

* healthcare and emergency medical services personnel

* all people from 6 mos. to 24 years of age

* persons aged 25 - 64 with chronic medical conditions

The vaccine would be available in mid-October and provided at no cost to hospitals, pharmacies, medical providers and Collin County. It is unclear how many doses will be available under this program. Recent media coverage has focused on an anticipated shortage of vaccine, especially early in the flu season.

The $707,000 grant represents Collin County's portion of a $17.8 million dollar Public Health Emergency Response (PHER) program (PDF) that the State of Texas is distributing to local health departments statewide.

The county is in the process of filing the needed paperwork in Austin, and final acceptance of the program by the commissioners' court is expected in mid-September.